“Inviting.”
That’s the terpene ocimene‘s scent profile in a single word. It lends a cool refreshment to mint leaves, accentuates the herbal freshness of parsley and basil, enriches the aromatic bouquet of orchids, and lends smooth, sweet, and herbal influences to marijuana.
Though never the dominant terpene in a given cannabis strain, ocimene has a lot to offer in a supporting role. It can mitigate the harsh elements of smoked flower and vaped cannabis and open airways as a natural decongest and bronchodilator. Traditional medicines incorporate a wide range of ocimene-rich compounds and essential oils into legacy healing traditions. Modern research confirms many of these therapeutic benefits, including: strong anti-fungal, antibacterial, antiviral, and anti-inflammatory effects. In addition, ocimene’s ability to interact easily with other terpenes and cannabinoids may enhance its overall effectiveness.
What Is Ocimene?
Ocimene is one of the plant world’s most common terpenes – and one of the most important for plant health. Its pleasing aroma of flowers, grasses, and blooming trees invites bees and other pollinating insects to come, enjoy, and participate in the procreation process. It sends a warning to would-be pests, summons beneficial parasite predators, and protects vegetation from fungal infections.
The name ocimene is derived from an ancient Greek word for basil, ocimum. It is scientifically classified as a monoterpene, similar in nature to important cannabis terpenes such as myrcene, linalool, d-limonene, and pinene. Ocimene has a relatively simple molecular structure that interacts easily with numerous other organic compounds, including many of the 100-plus terpenes found in marijuana. This may allow ocimene to play an important role in what is known as the entourage effect. CannaMD has described this effect in which terpenes are believed to work together with cannabinoids to enhance therapeutic benefits.
Much of the current understanding of the bioactive properties and potential therapeutic benefits of ocimene comes from research on essential oils that are rich in ocimene and an additional suite of complementary terpenes. These oils play an important role in historic medical traditions of the Middle East, Asia, and South America. Anecdotal information on the healing properties of these oils is now being confirmed by laboratory research, and terpenes such as ocimene are increasingly implicated as the mechanisms of healing.
Ocimene: Fungus Fighter
The parasite-repelling and fungus-killing properties that ocimene provides to plants may also help protect humans from certain fungal infections and disease-causing microorganisms. Leishmaniasis is a potentially life-threatening infection of parasitic protozoa that are carried by more than 90 species of sand fleas. The January 2023 issue of the Journal Pharmaceuticals reports that ocimene provides protective effects against the protozoa that cause leishmaniasis.
A study in the Journal of Natural Medicine found that a combination of ocimene and the terpene pinene was effective for treating ringworm (which, despite the name, is a fungal infection, not a worm). It also showed promise against more serious and potentially deadly fungal infections such as cryptococcosis and meningoencephalitis.
An essential oil made from the Boiss flower is commonly used in central Asia to keep milk and oil from spoiling. Research shows that this oil, which contains 40% ocimene, is an effective remedy for controlling candida fungus and repelling a type of mosquito that spreads malaria.
Researchers in the United Kingdom noted a concerning increase in antibiotic-resistant fungus infections among patients receiving wound care for burns, skin ulcers, and non-healing surgical wounds. As they reported in the journal, Materials, ocimene was one of several plant-based compounds that showed promise as a natural complement or alternative to antibiotic drugs used to combat fungal infections.
Natural Pain & Inflammation Relief
Essential oils made from the roots of the galangal plant are widely used in Southeast Asian folk medicine to treat pain and swelling. The mechanisms behind this traditional cure were reported in Pharmaceutical Science. A research team at Thaialnd’s Mahidol University determined that galangal oil, which contains high amounts of ocimene, reduced levels of a key enzyme that provokes inflammation and pain.
Similar conclusions come from a study published in the Korean Journal of Pain. The authors reported that an ocimene-rich galangal extract provided anti-inflammatory effects and symptom relief from both physical and neurogenic sources of pain. Another study published in the Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology reported on the pain-relieving and inflammation-fighting properties of an essential oil of the bossi flower that contained 58% ocimene and 10% pinene.
Cannabis Regulates Blood Sugar
Terpenes such as ocimene have been suggested as a natural alternative to synthetic drugs used to treat type-2 diabetes. The essential oil of black pepper contains major terpenes such as β -pinene, cis-ocimene, myrcene, and allo-ocimene. As reported in Advances in Pharmacological Sciences, this oil showed promise in the prevention or management of type-2 diabetes and hypertension.
Additionally, according to Food Science & Nutrition, a combination of black pepper and turmeric eaten with breakfast eggs decreases post-meal blood sugar spikes and helped control appetite.
Ocimene Helps Respiratory Disorders
Ocimene is a key terpene component of the herb known as African ginger. Essential oils of this plant act as a natural decongestant and bronchodilator. It works to relax airway muscles and clear mucus from the lungs. Medical marijuana patients who select ociocene-enhanced strains or products can reap the benefits of this effect to enjoy a more relaxed smoking or vaping experience.
Research published in Frontiers in Pharmacology investigated the therapeutic potential of basil oil for respiratory disorders. Ocimene, which in named after the basil plant, is one of the key terpenes in this oil. The study authors state that basil and its key ingredients have therapeutic benefits for asthma and COPD, and could prove beneficial in the treatment of respiratory disorders such as bronchitis, tuberculosis, and lung cancer.
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Additional Ocimene Benefits
Ongoing research into terpene-rich essential oils is revealing a broad range of preventative and healing properties of ocimene. Like many terpenes, it may play a role in cancer therapies (as of 2025, the body of evidence on its anti-tumor effects is limited). There are also some indications that it may provide mood-enhancing and stress-relieving effects, but much of that information is anecdotal. However, there are three areas where current research does support ocimene’s healing potential:
Antiviral
Research published in Chemistry & Biodiversity showed that bay laurel essential oil containing significant levels of ocimene and pinene was effective against the SARS virus. A recent study from Iran indicated that an extract of the dwarf elderberry plant containing significant levels of ocimene was 90% effective in inhibiting the spread of the herpes simplex virus.
Antioxidant
Oxidative stress, caused by an imbalance in the body between antioxidants and free radicals, can cause tissue damage and cellular death. The cone marigold plant played an important role in traditional South American healing practices. The essential oil of this plant contains four different forms of ocimene. Research published in Food Science & Nutrition found that this essential oil provided significant antioxidant and antibacterial properties, and suggested it showed promise for the development of anti-tumor drugs.
Essential oils of black pepper, which contain significant levels of ocimene, produce antioxidant effects. Biomedicine & Pharmacotherapy reports that the oil effectively mitigated unwanted side effects of a popular anti-inflammatory drug by suppressing oxidative stress and boosting protective antioxidant activity at the cellular level.
Anti-Seizure
The tarragon plant contains many of the same terpenes commonly found in marijuana, including ocimene, limonene, pinene and terpinolene. A study published in the Journal of Ethnopharmacology found that tarragon essential oil provided sedative and anti-convulsive effects that might help control seizures. The authors stated that these effects may be attributed to the presence of monoterpenoids.
What Foods Are High in Ocimene?
Ocimene is one of nature’s most abundant terpenes. In addition to cannabis, it is found in a wide range of herbs and foods. Incorporating some of these foods into a healthful diet can be a good way to boost its therapeutic potential. Enjoying a fresh mango, kumquat, or Beaumont orange can boost ocimene intake. Common culinary herbs such as basil, parsley, mint, and tarragon are rich in this aromatic terpene, as well.
What Cannabis Strains Have Ocimene?
The majority of cannabis strains contain at least trace elements of ocimene. It is not the dominant terpene in any strain currently on the market, but there are certain cultivars that elevate this terpene into the upper tier of the terpene mix. Ocimene is more commonly found in strains with a sativa heritage, and it is anecdotally known for creating uplifting and energizing effects.
More specific information on cannabis strains comes from ACS Laboratories, which is a third-party source for identifying and verifying the cannabinoid and terpene content of marijuana. Their website lists the following suggestions for selecting enhanced ocimene strains:
Dutch Treat: Sativa-leaning hybrid with pain-relieving, uplifted and euphoric effects
Jack Herer: Pine-scented sativa hybrid that inspires creativity and clear-headed motivation
Clementine: A sweet sativa-dominant hybrid with an energizing citrus aroma, known for enhancing mental focus
Dream Queen: Hybrid strain with a unique flavor profile that creates a euphoric, dream-like state of mind
Green Crack: Highly potent Sativa strain favored for daytime use to combat stress, fatigue, and depression
Questions About Ocimene?
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