What is Beta-Caryophyllene (BCP)?

Beta-Caryophyllene is a major plant volatile found in large amounts in the essential oils of many different spice and food plants, such as oregano, black pepper, clove, cinnamon. It is also a major constituent in the essential oil of Cannabis sativa L.

It is considered generally recognised as safe (GRAS) by the Flavour and Extract Manufacturers Association. It is approved for use as a flavouring substance in food by the US FDA and is listed in the US Pharmacopeia Food Chemicals Codex.^1-3

In 2008 it was demonstrated that BCP selectively binds to, and activates the cannabinoid receptor type 2 (CB₂), which is primarily found in peripheral tissues, including immunomodulatory cells.⁴ Cannabidiol, the non-psychoactive component of Cannabis sativa, also binds to the CB₂ receptor, but in this case the binding event leads to attenuation of CB₂ signalling, not activation. Notably, cannabidiol exhibits a complex pharmacological profile which is still not widely understood.⁵  

In contrast, THC, the psychoactive component of Cannabis sativa, exerts its effect by binding to and activating the cannabinoid receptor type 1 (CB₁) which is expressed in the central nervous system and the periphery. The significance of this is that cannabidiol and BCP exert their beneficial downstream effects of cannabinoid receptor activation without the psychotropic effects typically associated with CB₁ activation.

CB₁ and CB₂ form part of the endocannabinoid system (ECS), which exerts regulatory control over a variety of physiological functions such as inflammation, chronic pain, food intake, and depression. Consequently, there has been considerable interest to study the effects of cannabidiol and BCP to treat a variety of conditions under the master control of the ECS, particularly pain and inflammation.^6-10 A recent clinical trial by Panag Pharma examined the effect of BCP to treat pain caused by osteoarthritis of the knee.¹¹

To date, there are no TGA approved cannabidiol products available in Australia; medicinal cannabis products are only accessible via prescription. The same rules do not apply to BCP - the TGA does not consider it to be a cannabinoid in the classical sense.¹²

Beta-Caryophyllene is a fully legal product in Australia.

References

1. Flavouring and Extract Manufacturers Association. FEMA Database: Beta-Caryophyllene (FEMA No. 2252). Washington, DC: Flavour and Extract Manufacturers Association; 1997. www.femaflavor.org/flavor-library/beta-caryophyllene

2. Food Chemicals Codex. Beta-Caryophyllene. 11th ed., Book Press, Inc., Baltimore, MD; 2018:269.

3. Adams, T. B., et al. The Fema GRAS assessment of aliphatic and aromatic terpene hydrocarbons used as flavour ingredients. Food Chem. Toxicol., 2011, 49, 2471-2494. DOI: 10.1016/j.fct.2011.06.011 PMID: 21726592

4. Gertsch, J. et al., Beta-caryophyllene is a dietary cannabinoid. PNAS., 2008, 105, 9099-9104. DOI: 10.1073/pnas.0803601105 PMID: 18574142

5. Mlost, J., et al. Cannabidiol for Pain Treatment: Focus on Pharmacology and Mechanism of Action. Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2020, 21, 8870. DOI: 10.3390/ijms21228870 PMID: 33238607

6. Scandiffio, R., et al. Protective Effects of (E)-B-Caryophyllene (BCP) in Chronic Inflammation. Nutrients 2020, 12, 3273. DOI: 10.3390/nu12113273 PMID: 33114564

7. Kumar Jha, N., et al., Beta-Caryophyllene, A Natural Dietary CB2 Receptor Selective Cannabinoid can be a Candidate to Target the Trinity of Infection, Immunity, and Inflammation in C0VID-19. Front. Pharmacol. 2021, 12:590201. DOI: 0.3389/fphar.2021.590201 PMID: 34054510

8. Bahr, T., et al., Effects of a massage-like essential oil application procedure using Copaiba and Deep Blue oils in individuals with hand arthritis. Compl. Ther. Clin. Pract. 2018, 33, 170-176  DOI: 10.1016/j.ctcp.2018.10.004 PMID: 30396617

9. Sharma, C., et al., Polypharmacological Properties and Therapeutic Potential of Beta-Caryophyllene: A Dietary Phytocannabinoid of Pharmaceutical Promise. Curr. Pharm. Des. 2016, 22, 3237-3264  DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2021.111639 PMID: 34091179

10. Hashiesh, H. M., et al., A focused review on CB2 receptor-selective pharmacological properties and therapeutic potential of beta-caryophyllene, a dietary cannabinoid . Biomed. Pharmacother. 2021, 140, 111639  DOI: 10.2174/1381612822666160311115226 PMID: 26965491

11. Topical Use of 20% Beta Caryophyllene Alone And In Combination With 0.025% Capsaicin for Pain Caused by Osteoarthritis Of The Knee (2017-2019). Identifier NCT03152578. www.clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03152578

12. [www.tga.gov.au/book-page/11-cannabis]; [www.tga.gov.au/sites/default/files/scheduling-delegates-final-decisions-cannabis-may-2017.pdf]