(Photo credit: Craig Barker Photography).
A review published today reports that beta-caryophyllene, a terpene found in marijuana and numerous other plants, has shown potential to improve obesity, type 2 diabetes and abnormal cholesterol and lipid levels.
The review, published in Therapeutics and Clinical Risk Management, examined research into beta-caryophyllene (BCP) and its effects on metabolic disorders, focusing on its interaction with the endocannabinoid system and several pathways involved in inflammation, glucose control and fat metabolism.
Researchers from Padjadjaran University and affiliated institutions in Indonesia initially identified 257 records before narrowing their analysis to 17 studies that directly examined BCP’s mechanisms in metabolic diseases. Four studies focused on obesity, three on dyslipidemia and eight on diabetes, with two additional studies examining overlapping conditions.
Across the included animal studies, BCP was associated with improvements in several metabolic measures, including blood glucose control, insulin sensitivity, triglyceride and cholesterol levels, fat accumulation and inflammation.
BCP acts as an agonist of the cannabinoid type 2 (CB2) receptor, a component of the endocannabinoid system that is particularly prevalent in immune cells. The researchers said activation of CB2 appears to help suppress inflammatory signaling and reduce levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines.
The terpene may also influence peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPAR-γ), a receptor involved in glucose metabolism, insulin sensitivity and the development of fat cells. Other mechanisms identified in the review included activation of AMPK and SIRT1 signaling and inhibition of HMG-CoA reductase, an enzyme involved in cholesterol production.
Animal studies reviewed by the researchers also found that BCP reduced oxidative stress and systemic inflammation while influencing adiponectin and leptin, hormones involved in metabolism and energy regulation.
Despite the promising findings, the researchers emphasized that the evidence remains largely preclinical. No human clinical studies directly establishing BCP as a treatment for the metabolic disorders examined in the review were identified, something researchers say they hope can be remedied moving forward.
“Despite these limitations, BCP shows promising synergistic properties that support weight loss, glycemic control, and lipid balance,” the researchers concluded, calling the terpene a promising candidate for further clinical investigation.
