Structural formula of p-cymene · C₁₀H₁₄.
p-Cymene
Citrus, carrot, spicy
p-Cymene is an aromatic monoterpene found in many medical cannabis strains. Aroma: citrus, carrot, spicy. In Tier-A literature it is most strongly associated with pain and inflammation. terpen.cloud lists every currently available pharmacy strain high in p-cymene.
Effect profile
p-Cymene in the cannabis context
p-Cymene is the spicy, citrusy terpene from thyme and caraway with a focused, physical profile. At a score of 1.5 each it eases pain and reduces inflammation, with the pain mechanism running through opioid signaling and the anti-inflammatory effect through the NF-κB pathway, two cleanly documented routes. p-Cymene is found in thyme, caraway and oregano.
Anxiety relief, sleep, mood, focus and activation are not part of the profile. p-Cymene is a physically accented long-tail terpene with a clear antimicrobial side note.
In cannabis, p-cymene is rarely dominant and forms partly through oxidation of γ-terpinene during storage. You recognize it by the spicy, citrusy, caraway-and-thyme aroma. Higher p-cymene levels signal an effect profile centered on pain and inflammation.
Pharmacological notes: Antimicrobial effect.