Guide to alpha-bisabolol, a terpene in cannabis

Alpha-bisabolol, commonly referred to as bisabolol, is a terpene in cannabis, chamomile, and other plants. It has s a floral, honey-like scent, and may help with health conditions like anxiety, inflammation, and nerve pain.

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What is alpha-bisabolol?

Alpha-bisabolol is a type of terpene, or chemical compound, that affects the smell, taste, and effects of plants.

Alpha-bisabilol can be found in:

• Chamomile
• Lavender
• Rosemary
• Cannabis

Alpha-bisabolol also helps act as a defense mechanism to protect plants against insects and fungi. Its scent is described as sweet and floral, similar to honey.

Alpha-bisabolol benefits

Some research shows that alpha-bisabolol offers health benefits. But more studies are needed to confirm these effects.

Relieves pain and inflammation

One mouse study found that alpha-bisabolol may help lower nerve pain and inflammation.

Prevents diabetes complications

Research has found that drinking chamomile tea, which is high in alpha-bisabolol, may help prevent diabetes complications, including:

• Nerve damage
• Vision loss
• Kidney damage

Eases anxiety and depression

One mouse study found that alpha-bisabolol may help lower anxiety by increasing gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), a brain chemical that increases feelings of calm.

In another mouse study, bisabolol was shown to help reduce anxiety and depression symptoms.

In a review of human studies, chamomile tea, which is high in alpha-bisabolol, was found to lower anxiety.

Provides anticancer effects

Alpha-bisabolol may help kill cancer cells. Studies have shown that the terpene lowered the number of cancerous cells in:

• Brain cancer
• Pancreatic cancer
• Leukemia (cancer that affects the blood and bone marrow)

Benefits the skin

Alpha-bisabolol is found in many skincare products. It’s an antioxidant, which means that it may help fight cell damage that can otherwise speed up the skin’s aging process.

One small study in women found that applying an alpha-bisabolol solution to the skin may help reduce dark spots (hyperpigmentation) related to skin disorders like eczema and contact dermatitis.

Alpha-bisabolol may also help wounds on the skin heal more quickly.

Alpha-bisabolol terpene in cannabis

Cannabis contains over 150 terpenes. In general, the plant produces lower amounts of alpha-bisabolol compared to major terpenes like myrcene and limonene.

Cannabis users report that strains high in alpha-bisabolol may help:

• Promote relaxation
• Relieve pain

The amount of alpha-bisabolol in cannabis varies depending on the strain. One study tested a variety of strains and found that it can range from 0.07% to 2.31%.

Which strains contain alpha-bisabolol?

Some strains have above-average amounts of alpha-bisabolol, such as:

• Dolato is known for its sedating effects that can help ease stress and promote sleepiness.
• Ice Cream Cake is another calming strain that some people use to help with insomnia and pain.
• Chocolate Thai is an uplifting strain that can help improve focus and creativity.
• Gelato is a very popular strain that can help ease anxiety without causing drowsiness.
• Master Kush may help ease stress and muscle tension.

Contact a Leafwell provider for more information about strains that contain alpha-bisabolol.

Does alpha-bisabolol have side effects?

Alpha-bisabolol is generally considered to be safe to consume. However, applying pure alpha-bisabolol to the skin may cause irritation.

The bottom line: Alpha-bisabolol is one of many beneficial terpenes found in cannabis 

Alpha-bisabolol affects the taste, smell, and health benefits of the cannabis plant. It may also help relieve pain, inflammation, anxiety, and offer other health benefits.

It’s also one of hundreds of beneficial compounds in cannabis. To learn more about alpha-bisabolol and other compounds that might improve your health, talk to a provider at Leafwell.

Resources

• α-Bisabolol inhibits invasiveness and motility in pancreatic cancer through KISS1R activation. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26851012/
• α-bisabolol is an effective proapoptotic agent against BCR-ABL+ cells in synergism with imatinib and nilotinib. https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0046674
• Alpha-bisabolol promotes glioma cell death by modulating the adenosinergic system. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28373446/
• Antioxidant activity of bisabolol: Inhibitory effects on chemiluminescence of human neutrophil bursts and cell-free systems. https://karger.com/pha/article-abstract/83/2/110/271577/Antioxidant-Activity-of-Bisabolol-Inhibitory
• Bisabolol. https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/Bisabolol
• Chamomile: A herbal medicine of the past with a bright future. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC2995283/
• Evidence for the involvement of the GABAergic, but not serotonergic transmission in the anxiolytic-like effect of bisabolol in the mouse elevated plus maze. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00210-017-1405-0
• In vivo stress model points (-)-α-Bisabolol as an alternative to relieve effects on neuropsychiatric disorders. https://openurl.ebsco.com/EPDB%3Agcd%3A4%3A32825796/detailv2?sid=ebsco%3Aplink%3Ascholar&id=ebsco%3Agcd%3A179427333&crl=c&link_origin=scholar.google.com
• Protective effects of dietary chamomile tea on diabetic complications. https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/jf8014365
• Randomized, controlled study of innovative spray formulation containing ozonated oil and α-bisabolol in the topical treatment of chronic venous leg ulcers. https://journals.lww.com/aswcjournal/abstract/2015/09000/randomized,_controlled_study_of_innovative_spray.6.aspx
• Secondary terpenes in Cannabis sativa L.: Synthesis and synergy. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9775512/ 
• Terpenes in Cannabis sativa — from plant genome to humans. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0168945219301190
• The effect of oral chamomile on anxiety: A systematic review of clinical trials. http://e-cnr.org/DOIx.php?id=10.7762/cnr.2024.13.2.139
• The terpenes camphene and alpha-bisabolol inhibit inflammatory and neuropathic pain via Cav3.2 T-type calcium channels. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8591808/
• Whitening effect of a-bisabolol in Asian women subjects. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/j.1468-2494.2010.00560.x

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