Cannabis & Cannabinoids · Terpenes · A floral aroma compound in cannabis, basil, mango and marigold

Ocimene

Q: What is ocimene?

Ocimene is a small aroma molecule made by many plants, including cannabis, basil, mango and marigold. Its chemical formula is C10H16.

Q: Is it alpha-, beta-, cis- or trans-ocimene?

All are used. Beta-ocimene, in its trans (E) and cis (Z) forms, is the most common in plants. The word "ocimene" alone is often used loosely, and the animal health papers do not say which form they tested in their abstracts.

Q: Which plants contain ocimene?

Some cannabis, some basil, mango cultivars, marigold (Tagetes minuta), bay (salam) leaf and many flowers, according to studies we read. Amounts vary widely. We did not find a source we read for hops, mint or orchids.

Q: Why is it called ocimene?

It is said to come from Ocimum, the basil genus. We could confirm this only from Wikipedia, not from a primary source.

Q: How much ocimene is in cannabis?

Usually little, and it varies a lot by strain and batch. See "What the lab numbers show" for real measurements and why units differ. The numbers say nothing about effects.

Q: Does ocimene reduce inflammation?

In rats it lowered swelling and inflammation signals. Two papers from one research group are the main evidence, and no trial in people was found.

Q: Can ocimene help with Parkinson's disease?

Not shown. In one small rat study with a toxin model, it was linked with less alpha-synuclein clumping. It has not been tested in people.

Q: Does ocimene calm you or make you anxious?

Unknown in people. In mice, breathing beta-ocimene made anxiety-like behaviour worse, while a linalool-rich scent did the opposite. Another rat study saw fewer anxiety signs after injected ocimene.

Q: Does ocimene fight infections?

Only in a laboratory dish, where beta-ocimene stopped a parasite from growing. It is not a treatment and was not tested in animals.

Q: Does ocimene make cannabis work better?

Unproven. We found no study that tested ocimene with THC or CBD.

(3E)-3,7-dimethylocta-1,3,6-triene (E-beta-ocimene) and its isomers, C10H16 · also called Ocimene, beta-ocimene, trans-ocimene, cis-ocimene, alpha-ocimene, 3,7-dimethyl-1,3,6-octatriene

Ocimene is a small, aromatic plant molecule (a monoterpene). The word covers several close relatives (alpha, and cis and trans beta). It is a minor terpene in cannabis and is found in basil, mango, marigold and many flowers. Most research is on plants and insects. The few studies on health are in rats, mice and cells. There is no human study of ocimene on its own.

General information, not medical advice. Last substantive update October 25, 2026 · Not medically reviewed. A named clinician has not signed off on this page. How this page is made

About Ocimene

Ocimene is an aroma molecule found in cannabis (usually as a minor terpene), basil, mango, marigold and many flowers. The name covers several relatives: alpha-ocimene and the cis and trans forms of beta-ocimene. Most research is about plants and insects. The few health studies are in rats, mice and cells, and there is no human trial of ocimene on its own, so no health benefit is established. Popular claims have no study behind them. There are no human safety data.

What it is, and which ocimene the sources mean

Ocimene is a monoterpene: a molecule of ten carbon atoms with the formula C10H16 (molecular weight 136.23). In PubChem, alpha-ocimene is (3E)-3,7-dimethylocta-1,3,7-triene, and beta-ocimene is 3,7-dimethylocta-1,3,6-triene, which comes in a trans form (E, CID 5281553, the common one in plants) and a cis form (Z, CID 5320250). Sources use the word loosely: some say E-beta-ocimene, some cis-beta-ocimene, some trans-ocimene, and many just say "ocimene". The three animal papers on health do not say which one they used in their abstracts. Allo-ocimene is a different molecule. Wikipedia says the name comes from Ocimum, the basil genus (not verified from a primary source).

Cannabis makes (E)-beta-ocimene in the resin glands of the flower; in the hemp variety Finola, it was one of the main products of nine terpene synthase enzymes. In a study of 33 cannabis flowers, cis-beta-ocimene was 4.3% (CBD-dominant) and 5.2% (THC-dominant) of total terpenes. In another, (E)-beta-ocimene was 50 ug/g in one strain and below detection in another. Outside cannabis, one basil leaf oil had 2.1% beta-ocimene, but another basil oil listed none among its main components, so it depends on the type of basil. Beta-ocimene was the main aroma compound in one mango cultivar (Guire No. 82), and the two ocimene isomers were the dominant insect-active compounds in Alphonso mango. A marigold (Tagetes minuta) oil had about 33% of the ocimenes together. Hops, mint and orchids are often named online, but we did not find a source we read that says so, so we do not claim it.

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What the lab numbers show

Our data hold 87 ocimene measurements for 71 named strains, including 5 of the 28 strains that have a profile page on this site (Blue Dream, Gelato, Jack Herer, Trainwreck and White Widow). They come from three sources with different units and different names for the compound, and we do not compare numbers across them. (1) A 2018 New Mexico paper lists 40 single-sample values for 34 strain names from commercial medical cannabis, printed under a "% dry wt" header: 0.000052 to 0.0020 as printed (the numbers look like mass fractions, so the real unit is not verified). (2) A 2017 California dispensary study gives means of "trans-ocimene" for 10 cultivar names, from 0.1 to 3.8 mg/g (5 to 9 samples each; the dry-weight basis is not stated). (3) A 2021 University of Vermont hemp flower trial gives means of "ocimene" (isomer not stated) from three replicate plots for 27 hemp varieties, from 0 to 4.51 mg/g, with two varieties at zero.

The same strain name varies a lot. Blue Dream has four New Mexico values from 0.00062 to 0.00174 as printed, almost threefold apart. In the California study Trainwreck averaged 2.6 mg/g with a standard deviation of 1.7, and Gelato averaged 0.1 mg/g with a standard deviation of 0.2, as printed. Ocimene is also minor in many cannabis samples: in one study it was below detection in one strain and 50 ug/g in another. These numbers are measurements of flower content from published papers and datasets, not from our own testing. They say nothing about effects.

Examples within the same unit and source type (California dispensary means, mg/g): highest were Strawberry Haze (3.8, 5 samples), Trainwreck (2.6, 7 samples) and Purple Princess and Purple Urkle (1.7 each); lowest were Gelato (0.1, 5 samples) and Mr. Nice (0.4, 6 samples). Jack Herer was 1.1 mg/g (9 samples). Because group sizes are small, treat these as rough. The New Mexico values for Blue Dream and White Widow are in a different unit and cannot be set against them.

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The popular claims

"Ocimene is a decongestant, antiviral or sedative." We found no study that tested any of these for ocimene on its own. The one smell study (in mice) found more anxiety-like behaviour, not less.

"Terpenes make cannabis work better (the entourage effect)." We found no study that tested ocimene together with THC or CBD, in cells, animals or people, so for ocimene this is unproven.

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What the research shows

In rats, ocimene by mouth lowered paw swelling and a chain of inflammation signals (TLR4, NF-kB, NLRP3, IL-1beta, IL-18), and raised the calming signals IL-4 and IL-10. A second paper from the same group reports less pain-like behaviour and fewer indomethacin-induced stomach ulcers, with effects described as comparable to omeprazole. A separate group gave 36 rats a toxin that mimics Parkinson's disease; injected ocimene was linked with less alpha-synuclein clumping and better movement scores. In a dish, beta-ocimene stopped Leishmania amazonensis growing at 0.89 to 2.78 uM against 114.5 uM for mouse macrophages. In mice, breathing beta-ocimene made anxiety-like behaviour worse.

Most research on ocimene is about plants and insects. A 2017 review says it is a very common flower and leaf scent and that its release rises after insect damage; the authors say the idea that it attracts pollinators is inferred, not proven. Young honey bee larvae release E-beta-ocimene as a pheromone that makes nest workers forage earlier. None of this shows an effect in people.

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Regulatory status

We did not find a regulator decision approving ocimene as a medicine. The WHO and FAO expert committee on food additives (JECFA) evaluated beta-ocimene as a flavouring agent in 2004 and listed "no safety concern at current levels of intake when used as a flavouring agent"; we read the database summary, not the full report. Company reports to the European chemicals agency, summarised by PubChem, list the pure chemical as flammable and an aspiration hazard. PubChem also lists an EFSA legal basis, but we did not read EFSA's conclusion, so we do not state it. This is not legal advice.

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At a glance

Traditional uses history, not proof

No traditional medicine use of isolated ocimene was found in the sources we read
Basil and mango, which contain it in some varieties, are everyday foods; ocimene is one of many aroma molecules in them

Studied for research

Inflammation and swelling, in rats, very low
Pain behaviour in animal tests, very low
Stomach ulcers caused by an anti-inflammatory drug, in rodents, very low
Parkinson-like changes in rats given a toxin, very low
Anxiety: breathing beta-ocimene made mice more anxious, very low (a warning)
Leishmania parasites in a laboratory dish, insufficient (not a treatment)

Main compounds

(E)-beta-Ocimene (C10H16)
(Z)-beta-Ocimene and alpha-ocimene (isomers)
Often found with myrcene, a look-alike with the same formula

Common forms

Natural part of cannabis flower and extracts (a minor terpene)
Natural part of the aroma of some basil, mango, marigold and bay leaf
Pure compound given by mouth, injected or inhaled in animal studies

Research links: PubChem: (E)-beta-Ocimene · Rat inflammation study, 2025 (PubMed) · Mouse anxiety-like behaviour study, 2026 (PubMed) · Research Library · Genes & Biomarkers Library

What it is and its history

Name: Ocimene (a group of isomers; beta-ocimene is the one most studied)
Chemical name: (3E)-3,7-dimethylocta-1,3,6-triene (E-beta-ocimene, the most common form in plants)
Other names: trans-beta-ocimene; (E)-beta-ocimene; cis-beta-ocimene; (Z)-beta-ocimene; alpha-ocimene; allo-ocimene (a different molecule); 3,7-dimethyl-1,3,6-octatriene
Common names: Ocimene (English); beta-Ocimene (English); trans-Ocimene (English)
Formula: C10H16
Molecular weight: 136.23
CAS number: 3779-61-1
PubChem ID: 5281553
Chemical class: Monoterpene: an acyclic (open-chain) aromatic hydrocarbon of ten carbon atoms (C10H16, molecular weight 136.23) with three double bonds
How the plant makes it: Plants make (E)-beta-ocimene with terpene synthase enzymes. In the hemp variety Finola, (E)-beta-ocimene was one of the main products of nine terpene synthases from the resin glands (trichomes) of the female flower. A 2020 study of enzyme genes reports that (E)-beta-ocimene synthases appear to have arisen several times in different plant lineages. In Indonesian bay (salam) leaf, one study found beta-ocimene is made mainly by the DXP pathway, with possible cross-talk from the MVA pathway. Plants release more of it from leaves after insect damage, according to a 2017 review.
Where it is found: Cannabis: a minor terpene. cis-beta-Ocimene was 4.3% (CBD-dominant) and 5.2% (THC-dominant) of total terpenes in a study of 20 THC-dominant and 13 CBD-dominant flowers. (E)-beta-Ocimene was 50 ug/g in one strain and below detection in another. Distilled flower oil of two South African cultivars held 0.22% to 4.37% cis-beta-ocimene and 0.90% to 2.27% beta-ocimene. A hemp variety (Finola) grown in the Alps had higher beta-ocimene than a second variety. See "What the lab numbers show" on the Overview tab for measured amounts in named strains.; Basil (Ocimum basilicum): beta-ocimene was 2.1% of one basil leaf oil (mainly linalool, 48.4%). In another study the basil oil was dominated by methylchavicol, geranial and neral, with no ocimene among its main components, so it varies by chemotype.; Mango: beta-ocimene was the main aroma compound in the Guire No. 82 cultivar (terpinolene was in Tainong No. 1), and the two ocimene isomers were the dominant insect-active compounds in Alphonso mango.; Marigold (Tagetes minuta): E-ocimene 19.9%, cis-beta-ocimene 7.9% and Z-ocimene 5.3% in the essential oil of one sample.; Bay leaf (salam leaf, Syzygium polyanthum): described as a key aroma compound.; Flowers and leaves of many plant families, and honey bee larvae (as a pheromone), according to a 2017 review and bee studies.; Hops, mint and orchids are often named online as sources. We did not find a source we read that states this, so we do not claim it.
Related or similar compounds: Name: Myrcene; Note: Same formula C10H16 (PubChem CID 31253) and made by related enzymes; often found with ocimene in cannabis. A different molecule with its own page.; Name: Allo-ocimene; Note: A different, conjugated isomer (PubChem CID 5368821 for the trans form). Mango fruit contains it alongside the ocimenes.

Traditional use and history history, not clinical proof

Tradition or era	Documented use	Source
Name	The name is said to come from the plant genus Ocimum (basil), from the Ancient Greek word for basil. NOT verified: this is from Wikipedia only; no primary source was read.	Wikipedia: Ocimene (read 2026-10-25)
Honey bee pheromone	A 2010 paper describes E-beta-ocimene as a volatile pheromone of young honey bee larvae that makes nest workers start foraging earlier. A 2025 paper reports that releasing it kept eggs and young larvae in underfed colonies.	Maisonnasse et al. 2010 (PubMed 21042405)

History shows how a substance was used or discovered. It does not show that a product works or is safe today.

What is inside, and how it may work

What it contains and how those compounds act in cells and animals. Laboratory and animal mechanisms are not proven effects in people.

Main compounds

Compound	Family	Where it is concentrated	Activity studied	Level of evidence
(E)-beta-Ocimene (trans) PubChem 5281553	Acyclic monoterpene	Flowers and leaves of many plants; cannabis flower resin (minor) Varies from none to a few percent of terpenes in cannabis; see "What the lab numbers show".	Studied in plant-insect signalling; the only mammal studies are in rats and mice (inflammation, pain, a Parkinson-like model, anxiety-like behaviour) and cells; no human study. ^{6 8 10}	Animal research
(Z)-beta-Ocimene (cis) PubChem 5320250	Acyclic monoterpene	Cannabis flower, mango, marigold Reported as cis-beta-ocimene at 4.3% to 5.2% of terpenes in one cannabis study.	No separate health study was found. ^{3 15 9}	Lab analysis
alpha-Ocimene PubChem 5320249	Acyclic monoterpene	Not established from the sources read	No study found that names it specifically. ²⁶	Gap
Myrcene PubChem 31253	Acyclic monoterpene	Cannabis flower and many herbs A main cannabis terpene in the cannabis studies we read.	Has its own page; look-alike formula. ¹	Lab analysis

Mechanisms, receptors and pathways

Target or pathway	Gene or receptor	What was found	Level
TLR4 / MyD88 / NF-kB / NLRP3 / caspase-1 / GSDMD (pyroptosis), COX-1 and COX-2, PGE-2, 5-LOX	TLR4, MYD88, NFKB, NLRP3, CASP1, GSDMD, PTGS1, PTGS2, ALOX5	In rats, ocimene lowered these signals and raised IL-4 and IL-10 along with less swelling and fewer stomach ulcers. ^{11 12}	Animal research
Brain AChE, D2 dopamine receptor, alpha-synuclein	ACHE, DRD2, SNCA	In rotenone-treated rats, injected ocimene went with lower AChE, high D2 receptor levels and less alpha-synuclein aggregation. ²¹	Animal research
Serotonin turnover (hippocampal 5-HIAA/5-HT)	Serotonin system	Chronic exposure to a beta-ocimene-rich scent raised the ratio in mice and went with more anxiety-like behaviour. ¹⁰	Animal research
Parasite membrane permeability; macrophage TNF-alpha, nitric oxide, ROS, IL-10, IL-6	Not applicable	In dishes, beta-ocimene changed Leishmania amazonensis membrane permeability and, inside infected macrophages, raised TNF-alpha, nitric oxide and ROS and lowered IL-10 and IL-6. ²⁰	Laboratory research
Insect signalling (honey bee larval pheromone)	Insect odour receptors (not detailed in the abstracts read)	E-beta-ocimene from young larvae makes nest workers forage earlier and can keep eggs and young larvae from being eaten in underfed colonies. ^{14 2}	Insect
Cannabinoid receptors (CB1, CB2)	CNR1, CNR2	No study we read tested ocimene at cannabinoid receptors.	Gap

Absorption, metabolism and elimination

Absorption: No absorption data for ocimene in people or animals were found in our searches.
Distribution: Not studied in the sources read.
Metabolism: No human or animal metabolism data were found.
Elimination: Not studied in the sources read.
Bioavailability: Not established. Animal studies used oral and injected doses; inhaled exposure was used in the mouse scent study. None report blood levels in their abstracts.

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7benefits and uses looked at

26studies and sources checked

Very low certaintybest evidence rating found

8lab markers tracked in trials

6 very low certainty1 not enough evidence

What was looked at

The 7 benefits and uses checked for Ocimene, each with how strong the evidence is. Tap one to open it.

Inflammation, swelling and arthritis-type joint damage (animal research)Very low certainty
Pain behaviour (animal research)Very low certainty
Oxidative stress markers (animal research)Very low certainty
Stomach ulcers from an anti-inflammatory drug (animal research)Very low certainty
Parkinson-like movement and brain changes (animal research)Very low certainty
Anxiety-like behaviour: breathing in beta-ocimene made it worse in mice (animal research)Very low certainty
Leishmania parasites in laboratory dishes (cell research)Not enough evidence

Lab markers tracked in the studies

Paw swelling (oedema)Inflammasome and pyroptosis signals (TLR4, NLRP3, caspase-1, IL-1beta, IL-18, GSDMD)Oxidative stress markers (MDA, GSH, catalase, SOD)Pain-behaviour tests (paw licking, writhing, tail immersion)Stomach ulcer indexAlpha-synuclein clumping in the brainAnxiety-like behaviour and social preference (mice)Leishmania growth in a dish (IC50 / EC50)

What is Ocimene good for?

The uses people ask about and how strong the evidence is for each. For ocimene, all of it is from animals or cells, and there is no human trial of the isolated compound.

Inflammation, swelling and joint damageVery low certaintyIn rats, ocimene by mouth lowered paw swelling and several inflammation signals, and one paper reports less joint damage. No human trial was found. The two papers come from one research group. Pain behaviourVery low certaintyOne animal paper reports less pain-like behaviour in standard tests. Not tested in people with pain. Stomach ulcers from an anti-inflammatory drugVery low certaintyIn rodents given indomethacin, ocimene lowered the ulcer score. Not tested in people; do not use it to protect your stomach. Parkinson-like changes in ratsVery low certaintyIn 36 rats given a toxin, injected ocimene was linked with less clumping of alpha-synuclein and better movement scores. It has not been tested in people. Anxiety and calm: a warning from miceVery low certaintyBreathing beta-ocimene increased anxiety-like behaviour and lowered social behaviour in mice, especially females. A linalool-rich scent did the opposite. Another rat study saw fewer anxiety signs after injected ocimene. The animal evidence points in different directions. Leishmania parasites in a dishNot enough evidenceBeta-ocimene stopped the parasite growing in laboratory culture at amounts far below what harmed mouse immune cells. Not a treatment; no animal tests yet. Other online claims (for example decongestant, antiviral, sedative)Not enough evidenceOften claimed online. We found no study that tested them for ocimene on its own.

Benefits, one by one

Each card is a research question, not a promise. Tap a goal to filter. Open a card to see the studies, doses and limits.

Inflammation, swelling and arthritis-type joint damage (animal research)

Very low certainty

In rats given an irritant, ocimene by mouth reduced paw swelling and several inflammation signals. One paper also reports less joint damage on X-ray. No study in people exists.

2 studiesIsolated ocimene given by mouth to rats. Not a supplement and not a c…

Studies, doses and limits

What the trials found

No trial in people was found. Our PubMed searches found no human study of ocimene on its own.

Results

Rats with induced arthritis (formaldehyde and CFA models): oral ocimene at 50, 100 and 200 mg/kg lowered paw swelling and the signals above, and the abstract reports less bone erosion and joint inflammation. A second paper from the same group reports less paw swelling from formalin and carrageenan.

Why this rating

Two papers from one research group, in rats, with no human trial. The abstracts do not say which ocimene isomer was used.

Form and dose studied

Isolated ocimene given by mouth to rats. Not a supplement and not a cannabis product.

Who was studied

Rats and rodents (group sizes not given in the abstracts).

Limits

Animal doses cannot be turned into a human amount. Short, induced-inflammation models do not show treatment of arthritis in people. The two papers are not independent.

Why researchers looked

Ocimene is a common aroma molecule in plants. Researchers in Pakistan tested it on its own in rats as a possible source of new anti-inflammatory compounds.

Traditional use

No traditional use of isolated ocimene was found in the sources read.

Proposed mechanism Animal research

In rats ocimene lowered a chain of inflammation signals (TLR4, NF-kB, NLRP3, caspase-1, IL-1beta, IL-18) and raised the calming signals IL-4 and IL-10. This chain is called pyroptosis, a form of inflammatory cell death.

A proposed mechanism does not show that the effect happens in people.

Nothing here is an approved use. See the Safety tab.

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Pain behaviour (animal research)

Very low certainty

In one animal paper, ocimene reduced pain-like behaviour in standard tests. Nothing has been tested in people with pain.

1 studiesIsolated ocimene in animal tests.

Studies, doses and limits

What the trials found

No trial in people was found. Our PubMed searches found no human study of ocimene on its own.

Results

The abstract reports analgesic efficacy in formalin-evoked paw licking, acetic-acid writhing and tail-immersion tests, plus less paw swelling. Species, doses and group sizes are not in the abstract.

Why this rating

One paper, from one group, with details missing from the abstract.

Form and dose studied

Isolated ocimene in animal tests.

Who was studied

Rodents (species not stated in the abstract).

Limits

Pain-behaviour tests in animals do not predict pain relief in people. Not replicated by another group.

Why researchers looked

Pain and inflammation share signals such as TLR4 and NLRP3, so the same group tested ocimene in pain tests.

Traditional use

No traditional use of isolated ocimene was found in the sources read.

Proposed mechanism Animal research

The paper links the effect to lower TLR4, MyD88, NF-kB, NLRP3 and COX-1/COX-2 signals and lower PGE-2 and 5-LOX.

A proposed mechanism does not show that the effect happens in people.

Nothing here is an approved use. See the Safety tab.

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Oxidative stress markers (animal research)

Very low certainty

In treated rats, a marker of cell damage (MDA) went down and the body's own antioxidant enzymes (GSH, catalase, SOD) went up. These are blood or tissue markers in animals, not health outcomes.

2 studiesIsolated ocimene in rats.

Studies, doses and limits

What the trials found

No trial in people was found. Our PubMed searches found no human study of ocimene on its own.

Results

Both rat papers report lower MDA and higher GSH, catalase and SOD after ocimene. These are signals in animals with induced inflammation, and they do not by themselves show a health benefit.

Why this rating

Markers measured in the same two papers from one group; not a clinical result.

Form and dose studied

Isolated ocimene in rats.

Who was studied

Rats.

Limits

Markers can move without any change in how an animal or person feels or functions.

Why researchers looked

Inflammation and oxidative stress go together, so these markers were measured alongside the swelling and cytokine signals.

Traditional use

No traditional use of isolated ocimene was found in the sources read.

Proposed mechanism Animal research

The papers suggest ocimene shifts the balance between damaging oxygen molecules and protective enzymes in inflamed tissue.

A proposed mechanism does not show that the effect happens in people.

Nothing here is an approved use. See the Safety tab.

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Stomach ulcers from an anti-inflammatory drug (animal research)

Very low certainty

In rodents given the drug indomethacin, ocimene lowered the ulcer score. The authors describe its effect as comparable to omeprazole. This was not tested in people.

1 studiesIsolated ocimene in animal tests.

Studies, doses and limits

What the trials found

No trial in people was found. Our PubMed searches found no human study of ocimene on its own.

Results

The abstract reports a lower ulcer index and better ulcer scores in macroscopic and histology checks with indomethacin-induced ulcers, comparable to omeprazole.

Why this rating

One paper, species and doses not in the abstract.

Form and dose studied

Isolated ocimene in animal tests.

Who was studied

Rodents (species not stated in the abstract).

Limits

Not replicated. It does not show that ocimene protects the stomach of people who take anti-inflammatory drugs.

Why researchers looked

Anti-inflammatory drugs such as indomethacin can damage the stomach, so the researchers asked whether ocimene is gentler on it.

Traditional use

No traditional use of isolated ocimene was found in the sources read.

Proposed mechanism Animal research

The paper links the protection to lower TLR4 and pyroptosis signals in the stomach.

A proposed mechanism does not show that the effect happens in people.

Do not use this to protect your stomach from anti-inflammatory drugs. Ask a doctor or pharmacist.

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Parkinson-like movement and brain changes (animal research)

Very low certainty

In rats given a toxin that mimics Parkinson's disease, ocimene injections were linked with less clumping of the brain protein alpha-synuclein and better movement scores. Nothing has been tested in people.

1 studiesIsolated ocimene (or an essential oil: the abstract is not clear) inj…

Studies, doses and limits

What the trials found

No trial in people was found. Our PubMed searches found no human study of ocimene on its own.

Results

36 male rats in six groups of six. Rotenone (2.5 mg/kg injected) was the toxin. Ocimene at 66.66, 100 and 200 mg/kg injected was compared with rotenone alone and with L-Dopa. In the open-field test the treated groups showed fewer anxiety signs and more movement. The authors conclude ocimene has neuroprotective properties; that is a conclusion about this rat model only.

Why this rating

One small rat study with a toxin model and no replication.

Form and dose studied

Isolated ocimene (or an essential oil: the abstract is not clear) injected into the abdomen of rats.

Who was studied

Male rats.

Limits

Toxin models do not reproduce Parkinson's disease in people. Injected doses are not a human amount. The material tested is not clearly described.

Why researchers looked

Researchers in India asked whether ocimene protects brain cells in a chemical model of Parkinson's disease.

Traditional use

No traditional use of isolated ocimene was found in the sources read.

Proposed mechanism Animal research

In the treated rats, brain AChE (an enzyme) was lower, D2 dopamine receptor levels were high and alpha-synuclein aggregation was reduced.

A proposed mechanism does not show that the effect happens in people.

Nothing here is an approved use. See the Safety tab.

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Anxiety-like behaviour: breathing in beta-ocimene made it worse in mice (animal research)

Very low certainty

This is a warning, not a benefit. In mice, the scent of a beta-ocimene-rich flower and beta-ocimene alone increased anxiety-like behaviour and reduced social behaviour. A linalool-rich flower scent did the opposite.

2 studiesInhaled flower scent and inhaled beta-ocimene in mice.

Studies, doses and limits

What the trials found

No trial in people was found. Our PubMed searches found no human study of ocimene on its own.

Results

Mice breathing beta-ocimene showed anxiety-like behaviour in the light-dark box, elevated plus maze and three-chamber test, especially female mice (for example 97.10 s vs 143.04 s in the light box, p < 0.05; social preference 45% vs 63%, p < 0.001). Chronic low-concentration exposure to the ocimene-rich flower scent lowered social preference (30.92% vs 59.38%, p < 0.01).

Why this rating

One mouse study; the two flower scents differ in more than one compound.

Form and dose studied

Inhaled flower scent and inhaled beta-ocimene in mice.

Who was studied

ICR mice, both sexes.

Limits

It does not show what ocimene does in people, but it is the only study in our searches that tested ocimene on mood or behaviour by smell, and the result was an adverse one. The rat Parkinson-model paper (above) saw fewer anxiety signs after injected ocimene, so the animal evidence on anxiety points in different directions.

Why researchers looked

Researchers asked whether the scent of the Chinese wintersweet flower affects anxiety, and which compound explains the difference between two flower types.

Traditional use

The paper says wintersweet flowers are traditionally used as appreciation and medicine, and that the mental health effects of the scent were unexplored.

Proposed mechanism Animal research

Chronic exposure to the ocimene-rich scent raised the hippocampal 5-HIAA/5-HT ratio, a serotonin turnover marker that tracked with more anxiety-like behaviour, opposite to the linalool-rich scent.

A proposed mechanism does not show that the effect happens in people.

See the Safety tab.

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Leishmania parasites in laboratory dishes (cell research)

Not enough evidence

In dishes, beta-ocimene stopped a parasite that causes leishmaniasis from growing, at amounts far below what harmed mouse immune cells. This is not a treatment and has not been tested in animals.

1 studiesIsolated beta-ocimene in cell culture.

Studies, doses and limits

What the trials found

No trial in people was found. Our PubMed searches found no human study of ocimene on its own.

Results

Leishmania amazonensis: IC50 2.78 uM (promastigotes), EC50 1.12 uM (axenic amastigotes) and EC50 0.89 uM (amastigotes inside macrophages), against a CC50 of 114.5 uM in RAW 264.7 macrophages. The paper reports it as 469.52 times more selective than meglumine antimoniate and 42.88 times more selective than amphotericin B.

Why this rating

A single dish study; the authors call for animal tests next.

Form and dose studied

Isolated beta-ocimene in cell culture.

Who was studied

Parasite and mouse cell line.

Limits

Dish results often fail in animals and people. Not a treatment for leishmaniasis or any infection.

Why researchers looked

Current leishmaniasis drugs are toxic and resistance is growing, so researchers screen plant compounds.

Traditional use

No traditional use of isolated beta-ocimene was found in the sources read.

Proposed mechanism Laboratory research

The paper links the effect to changes in the parasite's membrane permeability and, inside infected mouse macrophages, to higher TNF-alpha, nitric oxide and ROS and lower IL-10 and IL-6.

A proposed mechanism does not show that the effect happens in people.

Not a treatment. Leishmaniasis needs a doctor.

²⁰

Connections to the rest of health

How Ocimene connects to the rest of our health knowledge graph. Every link says what kind of connection it is. A safety link (for example to the liver) is a warning, not a benefit. A study that merely mentions a topic never creates a benefit link.

Explore every connection: goals, body systems, organs, symptoms, genes

Kind of connection Connected to Search

B. Body systems

Connected to	Kind of connection	Evidence status	Context	Studies
Immune System	Biological association	Very low certainty	Studied for: Inflammation, swelling and arthritis-type joint damage (animal research) Studied for: Oxidative stress markers (animal research)	^{11 12 20}
Musculoskeletal System	Biological association	Very low certainty	Studied for: Inflammation, swelling and arthritis-type joint damage (animal research)	^{11 12}
Nervous System	Biological association	Very low certainty	Studied for: Pain behaviour (animal research) Studied for: Parkinson-like movement and brain changes (animal research)	^{12 21 10}
Digestive System	Biological association	Very low certainty	Studied for: Stomach ulcers from an anti-inflammatory drug (animal research)	¹²

I. Biomarkers

Connected to	Kind of connection	Evidence status	Context	Studies
Paw swelling (oedema)	Biological association	Very low certainty	Measured in trials: lowered. A lab change is not the same as a health benefit.	^{11 12}
Inflammasome and pyroptosis signals (TLR4, NLRP3, caspase-1, IL-1beta, IL-18, GSDMD)	Biological association	Very low certainty	Measured in trials: lowered. A lab change is not the same as a health benefit.	^{11 12}
Oxidative stress markers (MDA, GSH, catalase, SOD)	Biological association	Very low certainty	Measured in trials: mixed. A lab change is not the same as a health benefit.	^{11 12}
Pain-behaviour tests (paw licking, writhing, tail immersion)	Biological association	Very low certainty	Measured in trials: improved. A lab change is not the same as a health benefit.	¹²
Stomach ulcer index	Biological association	Very low certainty	Measured in trials: lowered. A lab change is not the same as a health benefit.	¹²
Alpha-synuclein clumping in the brain	Biological association	Very low certainty	Measured in trials: lowered. A lab change is not the same as a health benefit.	²¹
Anxiety-like behaviour and social preference (mice)	Biological association	Very low certainty	Measured in trials: worsened. A lab change is not the same as a health benefit.	^{10 21}
Leishmania growth in a dish (IC50 / EC50)	Biological association	Not enough evidence	Measured in trials: lowered. A lab change is not the same as a health benefit.	²⁰

K. Biological pathways

Connected to	Kind of connection	Evidence status	Context	Studies
TLR4 / NLRP3 / GSDMD (pyroptosis) pathway		Very low certainty	Lower pathway signals went with less swelling and fewer stomach ulcers in rats. Preparation or compound: Ocimene (isomer not stated), rats	^{11 12}

L. Active compounds

Connected to	Kind of connection	Evidence status	Context	Studies
(E)-beta-Ocimene (trans)	Biological association	Animal	Studied in plant-insect signalling; the only mammal studies are in rats and mice (inflammation, pain, a Parkinson-like model, anxiety-like behaviour) and cells; no human study. Preparation or compound: Flowers and leaves of many plants; cannabis flower resin (minor)	^{6 8 10}
(Z)-beta-Ocimene (cis)	Biological association	Lab analysis	No separate health study was found. Preparation or compound: Cannabis flower, mango, marigold	^{3 15 9}
alpha-Ocimene	Biological association	Gap	No study found that names it specifically. Preparation or compound: Not established from the sources read	²⁶
Myrcene	Biological association	Lab analysis	Has its own page; look-alike formula. Preparation or compound: Cannabis flower and many herbs	¹

Each connection is stored with the ingredient, the connected record, the kind of connection, the evidence status, the supporting studies, the preparation or compound involved, and a review date (last reviewed October 25, 2026).

Evidence at a glance: what changed in 6 lab markers

Tap a number to show only those markers. Counts are markers, not people.

Other51

The evidence

The research centre for Ocimene. Every record here was checked against PubMed or the publisher's page; we never list a study we have not verified.

Evidence by outcome

Inflammation, swelling and arthritis-type joint damage (animal research) 2 studies Very low certainty Pain behaviour (animal research) 1 study Very low certainty Oxidative stress markers (animal research) 2 studies Very low certainty Stomach ulcers from an anti-inflammatory drug (animal research) 1 study Very low certainty Parkinson-like movement and brain changes (animal research) 1 study Very low certainty Anxiety-like behaviour: breathing in beta-ocimene made it worse in mice (animal research) 2 studies Very low certainty Leishmania parasites in laboratory dishes (cell research) 1 study Not enough evidence

Bars show how many studies we found for each outcome, not how well it works. People are added up across trials only (reviews are not added, to avoid double counting).

How we rate evidence

High certainty

Several well-run trials or reviews agree; further research is unlikely to change the picture much.

Moderate certainty

Good trials point the same way, but some doubt remains.

Low certainty

Small, short or inconsistent trials. The finding could change with better research.

Very low certainty

Very little or very weak human data. Treat as a possibility only.

Mixed findings

Trials or reviews disagree with each other.

Not enough evidence

Not enough human research to say either way.

Evidence against

Good research found no benefit, or found harm.

We take the reviewers' own risk-of-bias and GRADE statements where they exist, and otherwise judge from study size, design, consistency, directness and whether a product matches what is sold. Many publications do not make evidence high. Method note: We searched PubMed and read abstracts of about 20 sources, read PubChem through its public interface, and read the WHO JECFA database page. Only abstracts were read for papers. Certainty ratings are the compiler's own reading. The lab numbers are from published papers and datasets, not our own testing.

Study library: every study we checked 26

Design Research type Year from Search

Study	Design	People	Product, dose, length	Result
Booth 2017 Terpene synthases from Cannabis sativa. PLoS One · PMID 28355238 · DOI	Lab analysis cannabis plant	Cannabis hemp variety Finola; gene study	Terpene synthase enzymes; products include (E)-beta-ocimene Cannabis flower trichomes	Nine cannabis terpene synthases were found. Their products, taken together, make up most of the terpenes in Finola resin and include beta-myrcene, (E)-beta-ocimene, (-)-limonene, (+)-alpha-pinene, beta-caryophyllene and alpha-humulene. Not applicable Methods, limits and funding Outcomes: Which enzymes make cannabis terpenes Limitations: A gene and enzyme study of one hemp variety. Funding and conflicts: Not stated in the abstract. Read: abstract
Carroll 2025 E-B-ocimene and brood cannibalism: Interplay between a honey bee larval pheromone and brood regulation in summer dearth colonies. PLoS One · PMID 39913563 · DOI	Animal research honey bee	Nutritionally stressed honey bee colonies	E-beta-ocimene (synthetic, released near broodless frames) Synthetic Release equivalent to 3,744 L2-L3 larvae Four days · vs Untreated colonies	All ocimene-supplemented nucs kept large numbers of eggs and young larvae four days later; half of the unsupplemented nucs cannibalised all their eggs and first-stage larvae. More brood kept in treated colonies Methods, limits and funding Outcomes: Retention of eggs and young larvae (brood cannibalism) Limitations: Bee colonies, small field experiment; says nothing about people. Funding and conflicts: Not stated in the abstract. Read: abstract
Dei Cas 2021 Characterization of chemotype-dependent terpenoids profile in cannabis by headspace gas-chromatography coupled to time-of-flight mass spectrometry. J Pharm Biomed Anal · PMID 34111731 · DOI	Lab analysis cannabis plant	33 20 THC-dominant and 13 CBD-dominant cannabis flower samples	cis-beta-Ocimene measured among terpenoids Cannabis inflorescence	cis-beta-Ocimene made up 4.3% (CBD-dominant) and 5.2% (THC-dominant) of the total terpene content, and was among the main terpenoids that together account for more than 80% of the total. Not applicable Methods, limits and funding Outcomes: Terpenoid profile by headspace GC-MS (TOF) Limitations: Italian lab method paper; sample sources are not described in the abstract. Chemistry only. Funding and conflicts: Not stated in the abstract. Read: abstract
Ding 2020 Origin and functional differentiation of (E)-β-ocimene synthases reflect the expansion of monoterpenes in angiosperms. J Exp Bot · PMID 32720987 · DOI	Lab analysis plants	Plant genes and enzymes (computer and lab study)	(E)-beta-ocimene synthase enzymes	The authors report that (E)-beta-ocimene synthases appear to have arisen several times in independent plant lineages, and identify four sites that matter for the enzyme's activity. Not applicable Methods, limits and funding Outcomes: Evolution of the enzymes that make (E)-beta-ocimene Limitations: A study of enzyme evolution. Funding and conflicts: Not stated in the abstract. Read: abstract
El-Soud 2015 Chemical Composition and Antifungal Activity of Ocimum basilicum L. Essential Oil. Open Access Maced J Med Sci · PMID 27275253 · DOI	Lab analysis basil	One sample of basil (Ocimum basilicum L.) leaf essential oil	Steam-distilled basil oil Basil leaf	The main components were linalool (48.4%), 1,8-cineole (12.2%), eugenol (6.6%) and others; beta-ocimene was 2.1% of that oil. Not applicable Methods, limits and funding Outcomes: Oil composition by GC and GC-MS; antifungal tests Limitations: One oil sample; basil oil composition varies a lot by chemotype. Funding and conflicts: Not stated in the abstract. Read: abstract
Farré-Armengol 2017 β-Ocimene, a Key Floral and Foliar Volatile Involved in Multiple Interactions between Plants and Other Organisms. Molecules · PMID 28703755 · DOI	Review plants and insects	Published studies on plants and insects	beta-Ocimene (volatile released by plants) Flowers and leaves	Beta-ocimene is very common in leaf and flower scent of many plant families, and its release is induced after herbivore damage. The authors say they found no studies that tested pollinator behaviour to pure beta-ocimene, so its role in attracting pollinators is inferred, not proven. Not applicable Methods, limits and funding Outcomes: Role of beta-ocimene in plant-insect interactions Limitations: A review of plant ecology, not of human health. Funding and conflicts: Not stated in the abstract. Read: abstract
Fischedick 2017 Identification of Terpenoid Chemotypes Among High (-)-trans-Δ9- Tetrahydrocannabinol-Producing Cannabis sativa L. Cultivars. Cannabis Cannabinoid Res · PMID 28861503 · DOI	Lab analysis cannabis plant	233 233 samples of 30 cannabis cultivars from one medical dispensary in California, over a year	Terpenoids including trans-ocimene (16 major terpenoids in the analysis) Cannabis flower Samples collected over about a year	Cultivars were grouped into five major groups and 13 classes by terpenoid profile. The author notes that cultivar names are inconsistent and that some cultivars fit distinct chemotypes while others form a continuum. Per-cultivar trans-ocimene means in our lab numbers come from this paper's data. Not applicable Methods, limits and funding Outcomes: Terpenoid content by GC-FID, identity by GC-MS; clustering into chemotypes Limitations: One dispensary, samples named by what the dispensary called them. Chemistry only. Funding and conflicts: Not stated in the abstract. Read: abstract
Giovannoni 2023 Determination of variability of terpenes and terpenoids in Cannabis sativa by gas chromatography-flame ionization detection and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. J Chromatogr A · PMID 36463647 · DOI	Lab analysis cannabis plant	20 Flower of two cannabis strains (CAT 1 and CAT 3); ten plants of each strain grown together	(E)-beta-ocimene measured among 20 terpenes Cannabis inflorescence One harvest	(E)-beta-ocimene was found at 50 ug/g in CAT 3 and was below the limit of detection in CAT 1. Variability across ten plants of one strain was about 20% for terpenes above 20 ug/g. Not applicable Methods, limits and funding Outcomes: Absolute terpene content by SPME GC-FID, identity by GC-MS; plant-to-plant variability Limitations: Two strains from one laboratory. Chemistry only; says nothing about effects. Funding and conflicts: Not stated in the abstract. Read: abstract
Jayanthi 2012 Isolation and identification of host cues from mango, Mangifera indica, that attract gravid female oriental fruit fly, Bactrocera dorsalis. J Chem Ecol · PMID 22438014 · DOI	Lab analysis mango and fruit fly	Headspace of overripe mango, cultivars Alphonso and Chausa; female oriental fruit flies	Mango volatiles Mango fruit 1 ug on filter paper (insect test)	In Alphonso mango, the compounds an insect antenna responded to included (Z)-ocimene, (E)-ocimene and allo-ocimene, with the two ocimene isomers the dominant compounds. Not applicable Methods, limits and funding Outcomes: Which mango volatiles an insect antenna responds to Limitations: About fruit flies, not people. Funding and conflicts: Not stated in the abstract. Read: abstract
Lan 2026 Different effects of two types of Chimonanthus praecox scents on anxiety: β-Ocimene might be the key component causing the differences. Life Sci · PMID 41260387 · DOI	Animal research mouse	ICR mice exposed to flower scents (acute and chronic)	Scent of two types of wintersweet (Chimonanthus praecox) flower, one rich in linalool and one rich in beta-ocimene; beta-ocimene alone Flower scent / isolated compound, inhaled Concentrations not given in the abstract Acute and chronic exposure · vs Linalool-rich scent, control mice	The linalool-rich scent increased open-arm exploration (anxiolytic-like). The beta-ocimene-rich scent impaired social behaviour at chronic low concentration (social preference 30.92% vs 59.38%, p < 0.01). Beta-ocimene alone produced anxiety-like (anxiogenic) behaviour in the light-dark box, elevated plus maze and three-chamber test, especially in female mice, and chronic exposure raised the hippocampal 5-HIAA/5-HT ratio. Beta-ocimene worsened anxiety-like and social behaviour in mice Methods, limits and funding Outcomes: Anxiety-like behaviour (elevated plus maze, open field, light-dark box, elevated zero maze); social behaviour (three-chamber test); hippocampal 5-HIAA/5-HT Limitations: Mice only, inhaled scent. Exposure concentrations are not in the abstract. Results may not carry over to people; the authors link the difference between the two scents to beta-ocimene content. Funding and conflicts: Not stated in the abstract. Read: abstract
Laraib 2025 Ocimene mitigates pyroptosis through TLR4/NLRP3-mediated mechanisms in CFA-induced inflammation. Inflammopharmacology · PMID 40266533 · DOI	Animal research rat	Rats with induced arthritis (formaldehyde and CFA models)	Ocimene (isomer not stated in the abstract) Isolated compound By mouth, 50, 100 and 200 mg/kg (animal doses; not a human amount) 28-day study period (CFA model) · vs Disease control group (no other drug named in the abstract)	Oral ocimene lowered paw swelling in the formaldehyde model (p < 0.001) and, in the abstract's words, reduced bone erosion and joint inflammation. It lowered NF-kB, caspase-1, ASC, IL-1beta, IL-18 and GSDMD-linked signals, raised IL-4 and IL-10, lowered PGE-2, 5-LOX and MDA, and raised GSH, catalase and SOD. Lower swelling and inflammation signals in treated rats Methods, limits and funding Outcomes: Paw swelling; inflammasome and pyroptosis signals (TLR4, NLRP3, NF-kB, caspase-1, ASC, GSDMD, IL-1beta, IL-18); IL-4, IL-10; PGE-2, 5-LOX; oxidative stress markers; bone erosion on X-ray Limitations: Rats only. The abstract does not say which ocimene isomer was used, how many animals were in each group, or give any human data. The abstract names both a formaldehyde model and a CFA model. Animal doses cannot be turned into a human amount. Funding and conflicts: Not stated in the abstract. Read: abstract
Laraib 2025 Anti-Inflammatory, Antihyperalgesic, and Gastric Safety Profiling of Ocimene: Attenuation of Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drug-Induced Gastric Ulcers by Modulating Toll-like Receptor 4 and Pyroptosis Pathways. ACS Pharmacol Transl Sci · PMID 40109750 · DOI	Animal research rodent	Rodents in pain, inflammation and gastric ulcer models (species not stated in the abstract)	Ocimene (isomer not stated in the abstract) Isolated compound Dose not given in the abstract · vs Omeprazole (for ulcers)	The abstract reports pain-test efficacy (formalin paw licking, acetic-acid writhing, tail immersion), less paw swelling, lower TLR4 / MyD88 / NF-kB / NLRP3 / GSDMD and cytokine signals, raised IL-4 and IL-10, and a lower ulcer index with indomethacin-induced stomach ulcers, with effects described as comparable to omeprazole. Less swelling, less pain behaviour and fewer stomach ulcers in treated animals Methods, limits and funding Outcomes: Paw licking, writhing and tail-immersion tests; paw swelling (formalin, carrageenan); TLR4, MyD88, NF-kB, NLRP3, IL-18, IL-1beta, caspase-1, ASC, GSDMD, COX-1, COX-2; IL-4, IL-10; PGE-2, 5-LOX; MDA, GSH, catalase, SOD; indomethacin ulcer index Limitations: Animal and test-tube work only. Animal species, group sizes and doses are not in the abstract. The abstract does not say which ocimene isomer was used. Same research group as the 2025 arthritis paper (Laraib, Qasim, Uttra), so the two are not independent. Funding and conflicts: Not stated in the abstract. Read: abstract
Li 2026 Integrative analysis of volatile organic compounds and transcriptional-metabolic networks in two mango cultivars with contrasting aromas. Food Res Int · PMID 42116446 · DOI	Lab analysis mango	Two mango cultivars (Tainong No. 1 and Guire No. 82)	Fruit aroma compounds by GC-MS Mango fruit	Terpinolene was the main aroma compound in Tainong No. 1, but beta-ocimene was the main one in Guire No. 82. Not applicable Methods, limits and funding Outcomes: Key aroma compounds and genes Limitations: Two cultivars; mango varieties differ a lot. Funding and conflicts: Not stated in the abstract. Read: abstract
Maisonnasse 2010 E-β-ocimene, a volatile brood pheromone involved in social regulation in the honey bee colony (Apis mellifera). PLoS One · PMID 21042405 · DOI	Animal research honey bee	Honey bee (Apis mellifera) colonies	E-beta-ocimene (a volatile larval pheromone) Natural larval volatile and synthetic Not given in the abstract Colony tests · vs Colonies without the compound	Young honey bee brood (newly hatched to 3 days) produced the most E-beta-ocimene relative to body weight, and in its presence nest workers began foraging earlier in life. Earlier foraging by worker bees Methods, limits and funding Outcomes: Ocimene production by brood of different ages; age at which workers begin foraging Limitations: About bees, not people. Shown here only to explain what the molecule does in nature. Funding and conflicts: Not stated in the abstract. Read: abstract
Odieka 2026 Chemical Characterization and Biological Potential of the Essential Oils from the Flowers of Two Cannabis sativa L. Cultivars from Komga, South Africa. Molecules · PMID 42280118 · DOI	Lab analysis cannabis plant	Essential oils from the flowers of two cannabis cultivars (Lifter and Cherrywine) grown in South Africa	Steam-distilled flower oil; cis-beta-ocimene and beta-ocimene reported separately Cannabis inflorescence (fresh and dried)	Across both cultivars cis-beta-ocimene was 0.22% to 4.37% and beta-ocimene 0.90% to 2.27% of the oil. The fresh Lifter oil showed moderate to low antioxidant activity in a dish, which the authors put down to the overall composition of the oil, not to ocimene. Not applicable Methods, limits and funding Outcomes: Oil composition by GC-MS; antioxidant and anti-inflammatory tests in a dish Limitations: Distilled oil, not the smoked or vaporised flower; lab tests only. Funding and conflicts: Not stated in the abstract. Read: abstract
Pavlovic 2019 Phytochemical and Ecological Analysis of Two Varieties of Hemp (Cannabis sativa L.) Grown in a Mountain Environment of Italian Alps. Front Plant Sci · PMID 31708938 · DOI	Lab analysis hemp plant	Two hemp varieties (Finola and Futura 75) grown in the Italian Alps	Terpenes by HS-SPME GC-MS Hemp inflorescence One growing season	Finola flowers had higher amounts of beta-ocimene and alpha-terpinolene, while Futura was dominated by alpha- and beta-pinene and very high beta-myrcene. Not applicable Methods, limits and funding Outcomes: Terpene and cannabinoid profile Limitations: Two varieties in one place and year. Chemistry only. Funding and conflicts: Not stated in the abstract. Read: abstract
Pratama 2022 The Identification of β-Ocimene Biosynthetic Pathway Through Mevalonate Acid (MVA) and 1-Deoxy-D-Xylulose 5-Phosphate (DXP) Pathways Using Crude Enzyme Extracts in Indonesian Bay Leaf/Salam Leaf (Syzygium polyanthum). Trop Life Sci Res · PMID 35966267 · DOI	Lab analysis bay leaf (salam)	Indonesian bay leaf / salam leaf (Syzygium polyanthum), crude enzyme extracts	Enzyme assays Leaf	The authors report that beta-ocimene is a key aroma compound of salam leaf and that it is made mainly through the DXP pathway, with possible cross-talk from the MVA pathway. Not applicable Methods, limits and funding Outcomes: Which route the leaf uses to make beta-ocimene Limitations: Crude enzyme extracts of one leaf species. Funding and conflicts: Not stated in the abstract. Read: abstract
Richins 2018 Accumulation of bioactive metabolites in cultivated medical Cannabis. PLoS One · PMID 30036388 · DOI	Lab analysis cannabis plant	72 Commercial medical cannabis samples grown by licensed producers in New Mexico (72 samples per our data file)	Terpenoids and cannabinoids Cannabis flower	The authors say complete chemical analyses of medical cannabis vary considerably between producers and are often not fully provided to consumers, and that terpenoid composition varied by accession and was used to cluster strains. Not applicable Methods, limits and funding Outcomes: Method for measuring cannabinoids and terpenoids; sources of variability Limitations: The supplementary table that gives per-sample ocimene prints values under a "% dry wt" header whose unit we could not verify independently. Funding and conflicts: Not stated in the abstract. Read: abstract
Shirazi 2014 Chemical composition, antioxidant, antimicrobial and cytotoxic activities of Tagetes minuta and Ocimum basilicum essential oils. Food Sci Nutr · PMID 24804073 · DOI	Lab analysis plants	Essential oils of Tagetes minuta (a marigold) and of basil (Ocimum basilicum)	Steam-distilled oils Plant oils	The Tagetes minuta oil contained E-ocimene (19.9%), cis-beta-ocimene (7.9%) and Z-ocimene (5.3%) among its main components. The basil oil in the same study was dominated by methylchavicol, geranial and neral, and no ocimene was listed among its main components. Not applicable Methods, limits and funding Outcomes: Oil composition and tests in a dish Limitations: Two oil samples; basil chemotypes differ, so this shows that ocimene is not in every basil. Funding and conflicts: Not stated in the abstract. Read: abstract
Sousa 2023 Cytotoxic and Antileishmanial Effects of the Monoterpene β-Ocimene. Pharmaceuticals (Basel) · PMID 37259336 · DOI	Laboratory research cells (parasite and mouse macrophage line)	Leishmania amazonensis parasites and RAW 264.7 mouse macrophages in dishes	beta-Ocimene (isomer not stated in the abstract) Isolated compound Micromolar concentrations in cell culture Laboratory assays · vs Reference drugs (meglumine antimoniate, amphotericin B)	Beta-ocimene stopped growth of the parasite: IC50 2.78 uM (promastigotes), EC50 1.12 uM (axenic amastigotes), EC50 0.89 uM (amastigotes inside macrophages), against a macrophage CC50 of 114.5 uM. The effect was linked to changes in parasite membrane permeability. In infected macrophages it raised TNF-alpha, nitric oxide and ROS and lowered IL-10 and IL-6. The paper reports it as 469.52 times more selective than meglumine antimoniate and 42.88 times more selective than amphotericin B. Strong parasite growth inhibition in a dish Methods, limits and funding Outcomes: Parasite growth (IC50/EC50); macrophage toxicity (CC50); membrane integrity; TNF-alpha, nitric oxide, ROS, IL-10, IL-6 Limitations: Test-tube study; the authors themselves say animal (in vivo) tests are still needed. Not a treatment for leishmaniasis. Funding and conflicts: Not stated in the abstract. Read: abstract
Suresh 2024 The Role of Ocimene in Decreasing α-Synuclein Aggregation using Rotenone-induced Rat Model. Cent Nerv Syst Agents Med Chem · PMID 38409725 · DOI	Animal research rat	36 Male rats given rotenone (a Parkinson-like model)	Ocimene (isomer not stated in the abstract; the conclusion calls it an essential oil) Isolated compound or oil (not clear from the abstract) Injected into the abdomen: 66.66, 100 and 200 mg/kg (animal doses; not a human amount) · vs L-Dopa 10 mg/kg injected; rotenone-only control	Treated groups showed fewer anxiety signs and more movement in the open-field test. Rotenone-treated rats had higher brain AChE; ocimene-treated rats had a significant decrease. D2 receptor levels were high in treated rats. Alpha-synuclein aggregation was reduced in ocimene-treated rats compared with rotenone-only rats. Less alpha-synuclein clumping and better movement scores in treated rats Methods, limits and funding Outcomes: Open-field, actophotometer, hanging-wire and catalepsy tests; brain AChE, D2 receptor and alpha-synuclein by ELISA; brain tissue under the microscope Limitations: Six rats per group, a chemical toxin model, one study. The abstract does not say which isomer or what exact material was used. Does not show benefit in people with Parkinson's disease. Funding and conflicts: Not stated in the abstract. Read: abstract
n/a 2004 WHO JECFA database: 3,7-dimethyl-1,3,6-octatriene (beta-ocimene; ocimene; trans-beta-ocimene), read on 2026-10-25 WHO / FAO JECFA · Source	Authoritative guidance n/a	n/a	n/a	The database page lists an evaluation year of 2004 and the entry "No safety concern at current levels of intake when used as a flavouring agent", with the report TRS 928 (JECFA 63/64) and toxicological monograph FAS 54 (JECFA 63/235). Methods, limits and funding Outcomes: The database page lists an evaluation year of 2004 and the entry "No safety concern at current levels of intake when used as a flavouring agent", with the report TRS 928 (JECFA 63/64) and toxicological monograph FAS 54 (JECFA 63/235). Limitations: We read the database summary page, not the full report or monograph. It concerns use as a flavouring agent, not as a medicine and not cannabis products. Read: api
n/a 2026 PubChem Safety and Hazards for beta-Ocimene (CID 18756), including ECHA C&L notifications, retrieved through the PubChem PUG View API on 2026-10-25 PubChem (NCBI) · Source	Authoritative guidance n/a	n/a	n/a	Aggregated from 1922 company reports to the ECHA C&L Inventory: H226 flammable liquid and vapour (98.1%), H304 may be fatal if swallowed and enters airways (96%), H412 harmful to aquatic life with long-lasting effects (70%). 37 of 1922 reports (1.9%) said it did not meet GHS hazard criteria. Methods, limits and funding Outcomes: Aggregated from 1922 company reports to the ECHA C&L Inventory: H226 flammable liquid and vapour (98.1%), H304 may be fatal if swallowed and enters airways (96%), H412 harmful to aquatic life with long-lasting effects (70%). 37 of 1922 reports (1.9%) said it did not meet GHS hazard criteria. Limitations: Company notifications for the pure chemical, not a regulator decision and not about cannabis or food exposure. Read: api
n/a 2026 PubChem Safety and Hazards for (E)-beta-Ocimene (CID 5281553), including ECHA C&L notifications, retrieved through the PubChem PUG View API on 2026-10-25 PubChem (NCBI) · Source	Authoritative guidance n/a	n/a	n/a	Aggregated from 80 company reports to the ECHA C&L Inventory: H226 flammable (98.8%), H315 causes skin irritation (53.8%), H319 serious eye irritation (36.2%), H335 may cause respiratory irritation (36.2%), H400 very toxic to aquatic life (17.5%), H304 aspiration hazard (16.2%). Methods, limits and funding Outcomes: Aggregated from 80 company reports to the ECHA C&L Inventory: H226 flammable (98.8%), H315 causes skin irritation (53.8%), H319 serious eye irritation (36.2%), H335 may cause respiratory irritation (36.2%), H400 very toxic to aquatic life (17.5%), H304 aspiration hazard (16.2%). Limitations: Company notifications for the pure chemical, not a regulator decision. Notifications differ between companies. Read: api
n/a 2026 Wikipedia: Ocimene, read through the Wikipedia API on 2026-10-25 Wikipedia · Source	Reference database n/a	n/a	n/a	Says the name comes from the plant genus Ocimum (basil), from the Ancient Greek for basil, and that the ocimenes are unstable in air and used in perfumery. NOT verified by a primary source. Methods, limits and funding Outcomes: Says the name comes from the plant genus Ocimum (basil), from the Ancient Greek for basil, and that the ocimenes are unstable in air and used in perfumery. NOT verified by a primary source. Limitations: Encyclopedia page; used only for the name origin, marked not verified. Read: api
n/a 2026 PubChem compound records for the ocimenes: CIDs 5281553 (E-beta), 5320250 (Z-beta), 18756 (beta, unspecified), 5320249 (alpha) and 6434062 ("Ocimene"), retrieved through the PubChem REST API on 2026-10-25 PubChem (NCBI) · Source	Authoritative guidance n/a	n/a	n/a	All five records: formula C10H16, molecular weight 136.23. CID 5281553 (3E)-3,7-dimethylocta-1,3,6-triene, CAS 3779-61-1. CID 5320250 (3Z)-3,7-dimethylocta-1,3,6-triene, CAS 3338-55-4. CID 18756 3,7-dimethylocta-1,3,6-triene (no geometry given), CAS 13877-91-3, FEMA No. 3539 in its synonym list. CID 5320249 (3E)-3,7-dimethylocta-1,3,7-triene. CID 6434062 titled "Ocimene", CAS 29714-87-2, drawn as (3E,5E)-3,7-dimethylocta-1,3,5-triene. Methods, limits and funding Outcomes: All five records: formula C10H16, molecular weight 136.23. CID 5281553 (3E)-3,7-dimethylocta-1,3,6-triene, CAS 3779-61-1. CID 5320250 (3Z)-3,7-dimethylocta-1,3,6-triene, CAS 3338-55-4. CID 18756 3,7-dimethylocta-1,3,6-triene (no geometry given), CAS 13877-91-3, FEMA No. 3539 in its synonym list. CID 5320249 (3E)-3,7-dimethylocta-1,3,7-triene. CID 6434062 titled "Ocimene", CAS 29714-87-2, drawn as (3E,5E)-3,7-dimethylocta-1,3,5-triene. Limitations: A database record; not a study. The generic name "ocimene" points to different structures in different records. Read: api

What we do not know yet

What the evidence supports: everything is very low certainty or insufficient. All of it is from cells and animals.
No human trial of isolated ocimene was found.
The two inflammation and pain papers come from one research group, and the abstracts do not say which isomer was used.
Animal results on anxiety point in different directions.
No human safety, blood-level or interaction data.
Pregnancy, breastfeeding, children and older adults: no data.

How new research is added

New studies are found by a saved PubMed search and are placed in a review queue. A person reads each one before it changes any evidence rating or safety wording. New publications never change ratings automatically.

Lab markers

What changed in blood or saliva tests during trials. A changed number is not the same as feeling or being healthier, and we give no "normal ranges".

Other 8

▼

Paw swelling (oedema)

Lowered in trials

How much a rat paw swells after an irritant is injected. Less swelling means less inflammation in the model.

Very low certainty

Results and what it means

Why it was measured

Standard rodent test for anti-inflammatory compounds.

Statistical vs. clinical meaning

Consistent across two models, but both papers come from one group and neither was tested in people.

Safety implication

None specific.

Study	Result	People	Product
¹¹	Oral ocimene (50, 100, 200 mg/kg) lowered paw swelling in the formaldehyde model (p < 0.001).	Rats	Ocimene by mouth
¹²	Ocimene reduced paw swelling from formalin and carrageenan.	Rodents	Ocimene

^{11 12}

▼

Inflammasome and pyroptosis signals (TLR4, NLRP3, caspase-1, IL-1beta, IL-18, GSDMD)

Lowered in trials

Proteins and messengers that switch on a type of inflammatory cell death. Lower values mean less of this inflammatory signalling.

Very low certainty

Results and what it means

Why it was measured

The papers propose this pathway as the way ocimene acts.

Statistical vs. clinical meaning

Mechanism evidence in animals; it has not been tested in people.

Safety implication

None specific.

Study	Result	People	Product
¹¹	Lower NF-kB, caspase-1, ASC, IL-1beta, IL-18 and GSDMD-linked signals in treated rats; IL-4 and IL-10 were higher.	Rats with induced arthritis	Ocimene by mouth
¹²	qRT-PCR showed lower TLR4, MyD88, NF-kB, NLRP3, IL-18, IL-1beta, caspase-1, ASC, GSDMD, COX-1 and COX-2.	Rodents	Ocimene

^{11 12}

↕

Oxidative stress markers (MDA, GSH, catalase, SOD)

Mixed results in trials

MDA is a by-product of cell damage from oxygen molecules; GSH, catalase and SOD are the body's own antioxidant defences.

Very low certainty

Results and what it means

Why it was measured

Measured alongside inflammation in both rat papers.

Statistical vs. clinical meaning

Direction depends on the marker: harmful marker down, protective enzymes up. Markers only.

Safety implication

None specific.

Study	Result	People	Product
¹¹	MDA was lower; GSH, catalase and SOD were higher in treated rats.	Rats	Ocimene by mouth
¹²	MDA was lower; GSH, catalase and SOD were higher.	Rodents	Ocimene

^{11 12}

●

Pain-behaviour tests (paw licking, writhing, tail immersion)

Improved in trials

Standard animal tests: how much an animal licks an injected paw, how often it writhes after an irritant, and how quickly it reacts to heat.

Very low certainty

Results and what it means

Why it was measured

Used to find out whether a compound dulls pain-like behaviour.

Statistical vs. clinical meaning

One paper, details not in the abstract.

Safety implication

None specific.

Study	Result	People	Product
¹²	The abstract reports analgesic efficacy in all three tests; exact numbers are not in the abstract.	Rodents	Ocimene

¹²

▼

Stomach ulcer index

Lowered in trials

A score of how much damage there is in the stomach lining after a drug that causes ulcers. Lower is better.

Very low certainty

Results and what it means

Why it was measured

Standard test for stomach protection in animals.

Statistical vs. clinical meaning

One paper, details not in the abstract.

Safety implication

None specific.

Study	Result	People	Product
¹²	Ocimene lowered the ulcer index and improved ulcer scores with indomethacin-induced ulcers, comparable to omeprazole.	Rodents	Ocimene

¹²

▼

Alpha-synuclein clumping in the brain

Lowered in trials

Alpha-synuclein is a brain protein that clumps in Parkinson's disease. Less clumping is the direction researchers hope for.

Very low certainty

Results and what it means

Why it was measured

A hallmark of Parkinson's disease in tissue.

Statistical vs. clinical meaning

One small rat study with a toxin model.

Safety implication

None specific.

Study	Result	People	Product
²¹	Alpha-synuclein aggregation was reduced in ocimene-treated rats compared with rotenone-only rats; brain AChE was lower and D2 receptor levels were high.	Male rats given rotenone	Ocimene injected into the abdomen

²¹

●

Anxiety-like behaviour and social preference (mice)

Worsened in trials

How much a mouse explores open or lit areas, and whether it prefers to spend time with another mouse. Less of both suggests more anxiety-like behaviour.

Very low certainty

Results and what it means

Why it was measured

Standard behaviour tests used to look for calming or anxiety-raising effects.

Statistical vs. clinical meaning

The two animal studies point in opposite directions; routes and models differ.

Safety implication

The mouse result is a warning signal, not a benefit.

Study	Result	People	Product
¹⁰	Beta-ocimene reduced light-box exploration (97.10 s vs 143.04 s) and social preference (45% vs 63%), especially in female mice.	ICR mice	Inhaled beta-ocimene
²¹	In the open-field test, ocimene-treated rats showed fewer anxiety signs after rotenone.	Male rats	Ocimene injected

^{10 21}

▼

Leishmania growth in a dish (IC50 / EC50)

Lowered in trials

The concentration of a compound that stops half of the parasites from growing in laboratory culture.

Not enough evidence

Results and what it means

Why it was measured

First-step screen for anti-parasite compounds.

Statistical vs. clinical meaning

A dish result only.

Safety implication

None specific.

Study	Result	People	Product
²⁰	IC50 2.78 uM (promastigotes), EC50 1.12 uM (axenic amastigotes), EC50 0.89 uM (amastigotes in macrophages); CC50 for macrophages 114.5 uM.	Leishmania amazonensis and RAW 264.7 cells	beta-Ocimene

²⁰

Safety

What studies and official sources say about side effects, medicines and who should check first. Each point shows what kind of evidence it comes from.

Main points to know 4

No human safety data for ocimene on its own. We found no human trial, case report or blood-level study of isolated ocimene in our PubMed searches. Everything below comes from animals, cells or chemical databases. Gap
Breathing beta-ocimene made mice more anxious. In one mouse study, breathing beta-ocimene or a beta-ocimene-rich flower scent increased anxiety-like behaviour and lowered social behaviour, especially in females. We do not know if this happens in people. Animal research ¹⁰
As a pure chemical it is flammable and can irritate. Company notifications to the European chemicals agency list the pure liquid as flammable and an aspiration hazard (it can be fatal if swallowed and it gets into the lungs). For the (E)-beta form, many reports also list skin, eye and airway irritation. This is about the pure chemical, not the small amounts in a flower or herb. Database ^{23 24}
The food-flavouring committee found no safety concern at current intakes. The WHO and FAO expert committee on food additives (JECFA) evaluated beta-ocimene in 2004 as a flavouring agent and listed "no safety concern at current levels of intake". That is about the tiny amounts used for flavour, not about medicine or concentrated products. Regulatory ²²

Side effects 3

Effect	How often	Severity and recovery	Evidence
More anxiety-like behaviour and less social behaviour after inhaling beta-ocimene (mice) Exposure concentrations are not in the abstract. Not shown in people.	Seen in the light-dark box, elevated plus maze and three-chamber tests, especially in female mice; no rate given in the abstract	unknown Not described in the abstract	Animal research ¹⁰
Skin, eye and airway irritation (pure chemical) These are company hazard notifications for the pure chemical, not human case reports.	For (E)-beta-ocimene: skin irritation in 53.8% of 80 company reports, eye irritation 36.2%, respiratory irritation 36.2%	unknown Not applicable	Database ²⁴
Aspiration hazard (pure chemical) A hazard label for swallowing the pure liquid; it does not describe cannabis flower or food.	Listed by 96% of reports that gave hazard codes for beta-ocimene (CID 18756)	unknown Not applicable	Database ²³

Liver

No human case of liver injury from ocimene was found, and LiverTox was not read. The abstracts of the animal studies we read do not report liver findings. ^{11 21}

How often. No human rate was found.

Monitoring. No agency monitoring advice was read.

This is a safety connection. It is not evidence that Ocimene supports liver health.

Medicines and supplements 3

With	Why it matters	Importance	Evidence	What to do
Anti-inflammatory drugs such as indomethacin (NSAIDs) prescription	In rodents given indomethacin, ocimene lowered stomach ulcers. This is a protective signal in animals, not a drug interaction study in people.	Unknown in people.	Animal research Very low certainty ¹²	Do not use ocimene or cannabis terpenes to protect your stomach from an anti-inflammatory drug. Ask a doctor or pharmacist about stomach protection.
THC, CBD and other cannabinoids cannabinoid	No study in our searches tested ocimene together with a cannabinoid, in cells, animals or people.	Unknown.	Gap Not enough evidence	Treat the idea that ocimene boosts or softens THC or CBD as unproven.
Medicines broken down by liver enzymes (CYP enzymes) prescription	No source we read tested whether ocimene changes liver enzymes or drug levels.	Unknown.	Gap Not enough evidence	Tell your doctor or pharmacist about any cannabis or terpene product you use, especially with prescription medicines.

Who should check first 5

Situation	Advice	Evidence
Pregnancy and breastfeeding	No data on ocimene were found. Ask your doctor before using cannabis or terpene products.	Gap
Teens and young people	No data on ocimene were found. Risks of THC-containing cannabis for young people are separate from ocimene; see the THC page.	Gap
Older adults	No data on ocimene were found. Ask a doctor or pharmacist, especially if you take several medicines.	Gap
Anxiety or panic	One mouse study found more anxiety-like behaviour after inhaling beta-ocimene. This is not shown in people, but if scents or cannabis products make you anxious, stop and talk to a doctor.	Animal research ¹⁰
Driving and impairment	No study tested ocimene and driving or impairment. Risks from THC-containing cannabis (impairment, mental health, dependence, cannabis hyperemesis syndrome) are separate from ocimene and are covered on the THC page.	Gap

Overdose, product quality and regulators

Summary. No human toxicity data. Animal studies used injected or oral doses and report no safety findings in their abstracts, so safety is not established either way.

Animal. Rats: oral 50 to 200 mg/kg in the arthritis study and injected 66.66 to 200 mg/kg in the Parkinson-like model; the abstracts do not report toxicity. Cells: toxic to the Leishmania parasite at 0.89 to 2.78 uM with a CC50 of 114.5 uM for RAW 264.7 mouse macrophages.

High dose or long term signals. Not studied. No long-term animal toxicity study was found.

Overdose response. Not described in the sources read.

Genotoxicity. Not found.

An ocimene figure on a cannabis lab report is one batch result. We did not find a study that tested whether a labelled ocimene value matches the real content.

Natural variation. In one study, (E)-beta-ocimene was 50 ug/g in one strain and below the detection limit in another, and ten plants of one strain grown together varied by about 20% in terpenes above 20 ug/g. ⁸

Reporting and names. The authors of a New Mexico study say complete chemical analyses of medical cannabis vary considerably between producers and are often not fully provided to consumers. A California author notes that cultivar names are inconsistent. Studies also report ocimene under different names (ocimene, trans-ocimene, E-beta-ocimene, cis-beta-ocimene), so numbers from different sources are not directly comparable. ^{18 7}

Label accuracy for ocimene. No study we read tested label accuracy for ocimene specifically.

Body	Action	Date
WHO / FAO Joint Expert Committee on Food Additives (JECFA) (International)	Database entry for 3,7-dimethyl-1,3,6-octatriene (beta-ocimene; ocimene; trans-beta-ocimene): evaluated 2004, "No safety concern at current levels of intake when used as a flavouring agent". Reports TRS 928 (JECFA 63/64) and FAS 54 (JECFA 63/235). source	2026-10-25
ECHA C&L Inventory notifications (read via PubChem) (European Union)	Company notifications for beta-ocimene (1922 reports): flammable liquid (98.1%), aspiration hazard (96%), harmful to aquatic life with long-lasting effects (70%). For (E)-beta-ocimene (80 reports): flammable (98.8%), skin irritation (53.8%), eye irritation (36.2%), respiratory irritation (36.2%). source	2026-10-25

When to get medical help

Coughing, choking or trouble breathing after swallowing a concentrated plant oil or essential oil (get urgent medical help)
A person cannot be woken, or breathing is slow or shallow
Swelling of the face or lips, hives, or trouble breathing after using a plant oil or cannabis product
Severe panic, confusion or agitation after using a cannabis product

Stop using the product and contact a clinician or emergency service. In the US, Poison Control is 1-800-222-1222.

General information only, not medical advice. Ask a clinician or pharmacist before use, especially with medicines, in pregnancy or with a health condition. See the Natural Remedy Safety guide.

Frequently asked questions

What is ocimene?

Ocimene is a small aroma molecule made by many plants, including cannabis, basil, mango and marigold. Its chemical formula is C10H16.

^{26 6}

Is it alpha-, beta-, cis- or trans-ocimene?

All are used. Beta-ocimene, in its trans (E) and cis (Z) forms, is the most common in plants. The word "ocimene" alone is often used loosely, and the animal health papers do not say which form they tested in their abstracts.

^{26 3 8}

Which plants contain ocimene?

Some cannabis, some basil, mango cultivars, marigold (Tagetes minuta), bay (salam) leaf and many flowers, according to studies we read. Amounts vary widely. We did not find a source we read for hops, mint or orchids.

^{3 5 19 13 9 17}

Why is it called ocimene?

It is said to come from Ocimum, the basil genus. We could confirm this only from Wikipedia, not from a primary source.

²⁵

How much ocimene is in cannabis?

Usually little, and it varies a lot by strain and batch. See "What the lab numbers show" for real measurements and why units differ. The numbers say nothing about effects.

^{3 8 7}

Does ocimene reduce inflammation?

In rats it lowered swelling and inflammation signals. Two papers from one research group are the main evidence, and no trial in people was found.

^{11 12}

Can ocimene help with Parkinson's disease?

Not shown. In one small rat study with a toxin model, it was linked with less alpha-synuclein clumping. It has not been tested in people.

²¹

Does ocimene calm you or make you anxious?

Unknown in people. In mice, breathing beta-ocimene made anxiety-like behaviour worse, while a linalool-rich scent did the opposite. Another rat study saw fewer anxiety signs after injected ocimene.

^{10 21}

Does ocimene fight infections?

Only in a laboratory dish, where beta-ocimene stopped a parasite from growing. It is not a treatment and was not tested in animals.

²⁰

Does ocimene make cannabis work better?

Unproven. We found no study that tested ocimene with THC or CBD.

Is ocimene safe?

Human safety has not been studied for isolated ocimene. Animal and chemical-database findings are mixed, and the pure liquid is flammable and can irritate. Ask a doctor or pharmacist, especially if you are pregnant or take medicines.

^{10 23 24}

Is ocimene a medicine?

No approved medicine based on ocimene was found. A food-additive committee looked at it as a flavouring in 2004, which is about food flavour, not medicine.

²²

Explore by health goal

Editorial transparency

Written by: AlternativeMed editorial team. Research compiled with AI assistance, then checked against PubMed records.
Medical review: None. This page has not been reviewed by a physician or pharmacist.
First published: 2026-10-25
Last substantive update: 2026-10-25
How we research: We searched PubMed and read abstracts of about 20 sources, read PubChem through its public interface, and read the WHO JECFA database page. Only abstracts were read for papers. Certainty ratings are the compiler's own reading. The lab numbers are from published papers and datasets, not our own testing.
How we rate evidence: See "How we rate evidence" in the Evidence tab.
Independence: No product is promoted on this page. No affiliate links are shown, and none will be added for ocimene. This page is information, not a recommendation to use it.

Sources 26

Each source was opened and checked. Where we read only the abstract, it says so. The small numbers in the text point here.

Booth JK, et al. Terpene synthases from Cannabis sativa.. PLoS One. 2017. PMID 28355238. DOI 10.1371/journal.pone.0173911. (abstract)
Carroll MJ, et al. E-B-ocimene and brood cannibalism: Interplay between a honey bee larval pheromone and brood regulation in summer dearth colonies.. PLoS One. 2025. PMID 39913563. DOI 10.1371/journal.pone.0317668. (abstract)
Dei Cas M, et al. Characterization of chemotype-dependent terpenoids profile in cannabis by headspace gas-chromatography coupled to time-of-flight mass spectrometry.. J Pharm Biomed Anal. 2021. PMID 34111731. DOI 10.1016/j.jpba.2021.114180. (abstract)
Ding G, et al. Origin and functional differentiation of (E)-β-ocimene synthases reflect the expansion of monoterpenes in angiosperms.. J Exp Bot. 2020. PMID 32720987. DOI 10.1093/jxb/eraa353. (abstract)
El-Soud NH, et al. Chemical Composition and Antifungal Activity of Ocimum basilicum L. Essential Oil.. Open Access Maced J Med Sci. 2015. PMID 27275253. DOI 10.3889/oamjms.2015.082. (abstract)
Farré-Armengol G, et al. β-Ocimene, a Key Floral and Foliar Volatile Involved in Multiple Interactions between Plants and Other Organisms.. Molecules. 2017. PMID 28703755. DOI 10.3390/molecules22071148. (abstract)
Fischedick JT. Identification of Terpenoid Chemotypes Among High (-)-trans-Δ9- Tetrahydrocannabinol-Producing Cannabis sativa L. Cultivars.. Cannabis Cannabinoid Res. 2017. PMID 28861503. DOI 10.1089/can.2016.0040. (abstract)
Giovannoni S, et al. Determination of variability of terpenes and terpenoids in Cannabis sativa by gas chromatography-flame ionization detection and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry.. J Chromatogr A. 2023. PMID 36463647. DOI 10.1016/j.chroma.2022.463669. (abstract)
Jayanthi PD, et al. Isolation and identification of host cues from mango, Mangifera indica, that attract gravid female oriental fruit fly, Bactrocera dorsalis.. J Chem Ecol. 2012. PMID 22438014. DOI 10.1007/s10886-012-0093-y. (abstract)
Lan XY, et al. Different effects of two types of Chimonanthus praecox scents on anxiety: β-Ocimene might be the key component causing the differences.. Life Sci. 2026. PMID 41260387. DOI 10.1016/j.lfs.2025.124095. (abstract)
Laraib I, et al. Ocimene mitigates pyroptosis through TLR4/NLRP3-mediated mechanisms in CFA-induced inflammation.. Inflammopharmacology. 2025. PMID 40266533. DOI 10.1007/s10787-025-01756-4. (abstract)
Laraib I, et al. Anti-Inflammatory, Antihyperalgesic, and Gastric Safety Profiling of Ocimene: Attenuation of Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drug-Induced Gastric Ulcers by Modulating Toll-like Receptor 4 and Pyroptosis Pathways.. ACS Pharmacol Transl Sci. 2025. PMID 40109750. DOI 10.1021/acsptsci.4c00639. (abstract)
Li Y, et al. Integrative analysis of volatile organic compounds and transcriptional-metabolic networks in two mango cultivars with contrasting aromas.. Food Res Int. 2026. PMID 42116446. DOI 10.1016/j.foodres.2026.119148. (abstract)
Maisonnasse A, et al. E-β-ocimene, a volatile brood pheromone involved in social regulation in the honey bee colony (Apis mellifera).. PLoS One. 2010. PMID 21042405. DOI 10.1371/journal.pone.0013531. (abstract)
Odieka AE, et al. Chemical Characterization and Biological Potential of the Essential Oils from the Flowers of Two Cannabis sativa L. Cultivars from Komga, South Africa.. Molecules. 2026. PMID 42280118. DOI 10.3390/molecules31111814. (abstract)
Pavlovic R, et al. Phytochemical and Ecological Analysis of Two Varieties of Hemp (Cannabis sativa L.) Grown in a Mountain Environment of Italian Alps.. Front Plant Sci. 2019. PMID 31708938. DOI 10.3389/fpls.2019.01265. (abstract)
Pratama BP, et al. The Identification of β-Ocimene Biosynthetic Pathway Through Mevalonate Acid (MVA) and 1-Deoxy-D-Xylulose 5-Phosphate (DXP) Pathways Using Crude Enzyme Extracts in Indonesian Bay Leaf/Salam Leaf (Syzygium polyanthum).. Trop Life Sci Res. 2022. PMID 35966267. DOI 10.21315/tlsr2022.33.2.1. (abstract)
Richins RD, et al. Accumulation of bioactive metabolites in cultivated medical Cannabis.. PLoS One. 2018. PMID 30036388. DOI 10.1371/journal.pone.0201119. (abstract)
Shirazi MT, et al. Chemical composition, antioxidant, antimicrobial and cytotoxic activities of Tagetes minuta and Ocimum basilicum essential oils.. Food Sci Nutr. 2014. PMID 24804073. DOI 10.1002/fsn3.85. (abstract)
Sousa JMS, et al. Cytotoxic and Antileishmanial Effects of the Monoterpene β-Ocimene.. Pharmaceuticals (Basel). 2023. PMID 37259336. DOI 10.3390/ph16020183. (abstract)
Suresh AS, et al. The Role of Ocimene in Decreasing α-Synuclein Aggregation using Rotenone-induced Rat Model.. Cent Nerv Syst Agents Med Chem. 2024. PMID 38409725. DOI 10.2174/0118715249283425240212111523. (abstract)
n/a. WHO JECFA database: 3,7-dimethyl-1,3,6-octatriene (beta-ocimene; ocimene; trans-beta-ocimene), read on 2026-10-25. WHO / FAO JECFA. 2004. (api)
n/a. PubChem Safety and Hazards for beta-Ocimene (CID 18756), including ECHA C&L notifications, retrieved through the PubChem PUG View API on 2026-10-25. PubChem (NCBI). 2026. (api)
n/a. PubChem Safety and Hazards for (E)-beta-Ocimene (CID 5281553), including ECHA C&L notifications, retrieved through the PubChem PUG View API on 2026-10-25. PubChem (NCBI). 2026. (api)
n/a. Wikipedia: Ocimene, read through the Wikipedia API on 2026-10-25. Wikipedia. 2026. (api)
n/a. PubChem compound records for the ocimenes: CIDs 5281553 (E-beta), 5320250 (Z-beta), 18756 (beta, unspecified), 5320249 (alpha) and 6434062 ("Ocimene"), retrieved through the PubChem REST API on 2026-10-25. PubChem (NCBI). 2026. (api)

Education, not medical advice. This page is for general information. It does not diagnose or treat any condition and is not a substitute for care from a qualified health professional. Natural does not automatically mean safe. Ask a clinician or pharmacist before changing your care, especially if you take medication, are pregnant or breastfeeding, or have a health condition.