What is α-Humulene?
α-Humulene is a naturally occurring terpene with the molecular formula C15H24. It has one large carbon ring and belongs to the sesquiterpene family.
α-Humulene is closely related to β-Caryophyllene and is sometimes called α-Caryophyllene. Both have the same molecular formula, but their atoms are arranged differently, which gives them different properties and biological activity.
Reported effects
Research on α-Humulene is still mainly preclinical. Its strongest reported effects involve pain and inflammation, which have been studied in several animal and laboratory models.
Pain & inflammation
Preclinical studiesα-Humulene has reduced inflammatory swelling and several inflammatory signals in animal studies. More recent research also found that it can directly reduce activity of a pain-sensing ion channel, helping explain its pain-reducing effects in rodents.
Molecular targets
The clearest direct molecular target identified for α-Humulene is TRPV1, a sensory ion channel involved in pain, heat and inflammatory signalling.
TRP channels
TRP channels are sensory ion channels involved in processes such as pain, temperature and irritation.
α-Humulene directly inhibits TRPV1. Laboratory experiments showed that it reduces electrical currents through the channel and stabilizes it in a closed state.
Researchers have also visualized α-Humulene bound directly to human TRPV1 using cryo-EM and identified the region of the channel where the interaction occurs.
Together, these findings make TRPV1 a well-established direct molecular target of α-Humulene.