Discriminative stimulus properties of Cannabis sativa terpenes in rats.
Behavioural Pharmacology June 1, 2024 Lawrence M Carey, Saba Ghodrati, Charles P France
Terpenes found in cannabis, such as linalool, limonene, γ-terpinene, and α-humulene, do not produce effects similar to THC or enhance THC's effects in rats. Rats trained to discriminate THC from a vehicle did not respond to terpenes alone as if they were THC, and terpenes did not increase THC's potency; α-humulene actually decreased it. In the tetrad assay, which screens for cannabinoid-like activity, none of the terpenes produced effects in all four components as THC did. The results suggest these terpenes do not act as CB1 receptor agonists in the brain.