The Cannabis Terpene Alpha Pinene

Alpha Pinene is the most common terpene in the plant world and also found in cannabis. Other plants such as basil, dill, parsley, pine needles, and rosemary are rich in α-pinene . Some of the cannabis strains that offer the most alpha pinene terpene are Bubba Kush, Chemdawg, Jack Herer, Super Silver Haze and Trainwreck.

Terepenes offer medicinal effects when consumed or used topically. Terepenes have shown to help in the biosynthesis for CB2 receptors in the endocannabinoid system.(Source) Alpha pinene works synergistically with THC to help regulate the psychosis effects when consuming cannabis.(Source) Alpha pinene is an organic compound offering medicinal value for many applications.

Alpha pinene has shown to give anti-inflammatory properties(Source). This allows for uses in arthritis, celiac disease, crohn's disease, joint pain and multiple sclerosis where a reduction in inflammation can aid in pain relief. Memory retention is increased with alpha pinene for it's ability to inhibit acetylcholinesterase activity in the brain.(Source)

Currently research is being conducted to show the benefits of alpha pinene slowing cancer tumor growth. A 2013 study showed how cancer cells were reduced with pinene on neurblastoma cells.(Source) A 2014 study using an anti-tumor drug concluded that pinene mitigated hepatoma carcinoma.(Source)

Many patients seek cannabis strains high in alpha pinene for it's benefits in asthma treatment and infections. Pinene has shown to be a bronchodilator. It helps to open the airways of the upper respiratory system.(Source) Pinene also has been found to be anti-microbial with the ability to treat bacteria as well as virus infections. Certain bacteria infections have shown positive results with pinene. Pinene has also been found to treat the infectious bronchitis virus. This virus is much harder to treat than bacterial infections.(Source)

Source:

http://theleafonline.com/c/science/2014/10/terpene-profile-pinene/

http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1476-5381.2011.01238.x/abstract

http://www.revistas.usp.br/rbcf/article/viewFile/44190/47811

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15740071

http://link.springer.com/article/10.2478%2Fs11756-013-0230-2#page-1

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3165946/

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24815485

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12122569

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21350392