Caryophyllene is a sesquiterpene found in basil, black pepper, clove, geranium, hops, lavender, star anise, sweet thyme, tobacco, cannabis, coriander, litsea, ginger, camphor, spearmint, pine, orange, sage, ginseng, catnip, and ylang ylang. Alpha-Caryophyllene is found in hops, hemp, geranium, and rosemary. Beta-Caryophyllene is found in black pepper, catnip, ylang-ylang, hemp, Melissa, camphor, savory, clove, thyme, pine, and more.
Sesquiterpenes are less volatile than monoterpenes, but still prone to oxidation. They have a strong odor. If oxidized (exposed to air) they could cause skin irritation and/or mucous membrane irritation.
Links to Plants Containing Caryophyllene
RESEARCH
The listings of research below represents a compilation of scientific articles found on the topic, with a very brief overview description of each article/study. This compilation of research articles does not necessarily imply that there are adequate results to demonstrate safe and/or effective human use of any herb listed.
ANTIMICROBIAL / ANTIBACTERIAL / ANTIFUNGAL / ANTIVIRAL
- Antiviral activity was demonstrated against herpes simplex virus type 1 in vitro. Star anise oil reduced viral infectivity by 99%, phenylpropanoids inhibited HSV infectivity by 60–80% and sesquiterpenes suppressed infection by 40–98%. From: Astani, A., Reichling, J., & Schnitzler, P. (2011). Screening for antiviral activities of isolated compounds from essential oils. Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine, 2011.
- Zingiber nimmonii, high in caryophyllene, showed significant inhibitory activity against the fungi, Candida glabrata, C. albicans and Aspergillus niger and the bacteria Bacillus subtilis and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. From: Sabulal, B., Dan, M., Kurup, R., Pradeep, N. S., Valsamma, R. K., & George, V. (2006). Caryophyllene-rich rhizome oil of Zingiber nimmonii from South India: chemical characterization and antimicrobial activity. Phytochemistry, 67(22), 2469-2473.
- Balsam fir was active against S. aureus, as were its constituents of α-pinene, β-caryophyllene, and α-humulene. From: Pichette, A., Larouche, P. L., Lebrun, M., & Legault, J. (2006). Composition and antibacterial activity of Abies balsamea essential oil. Phytotherapy Research, 20(5), 371-373.
- The a-terpinolene, trans-carlophyllene, and neryl acetate components of H. italicum (Roth) Don were effective against Micococcus luterus. From: Tundis, R., Statti, G. A., Conforti, F., Bianchi, A., Agrimonti, C., Sacchetti, G., … & Poli, F. (2005). Influence of environmental factors on composition of volatile constituents and biological activity of Helichrysum italicum (Roth) Don (Asteraceae). Natural product research, 19(4), 379-387
- Zingiber nimmonii, high in caryophyllene, showed significant inhibitory activity against the fungi, Candida glabrata, C. albicans and Aspergillus niger and the bacteria Bacillus subtilis and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. From: Sabulal, B., Dan, M., Kurup, R., Pradeep, N. S., Valsamma, R. K., & George, V. (2006). Caryophyllene-rich rhizome oil of Zingiber nimmonii from South India: chemical characterization and antimicrobial activity. Phytochemistry, 67(22), 2469-2473.
INSECTICIDAL / PESTICIDAL
- The study showed the following as possible termite fumigants: Melaleuca dissitiflora, Melaleuca uncinata, Eucalyptus citriodora, Eucalyptus polybractea, Eucalyptus radiata, Eucalyptus dives, Eucalyptus globulus, Orixa japonica, Cinnamomum cassia, Allium cepa, Illicium verum, Evodia officinalis, Schizonepeta tenuifolia, Cacalia roborowskii, Juniperus chinensis var. horizontalis, Juniperus chinensis var. kaizuka, clove bud, and garlic as well as the constituents of Diallyl trisulfide was the most toxic, followed by diallyl disulfide, eugenol, diallyl sulfide, and β-caryophyllene. From: Park, I. K., & Shin, S. C. (2005). Fumigant activity of plant essential oils and components from garlic (Allium sativum) and clove bud (Eugenia caryophyllata) oils against the Japanese termite (Reticulitermes speratus Kolbe). Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, 53(11), 4388-4392.
ANTIOXIDANT
- The most powerful scavenging compounds were neral/geranial, citronellal, isomenthone, menthone and E-caryophyllene. They had very strong inhibition of lipid peroxidation. The most effective antibacterial activity was against a multi-resistant strain of Shigella sonei. A significant rate of antifungal activity was against a Trichophyton species. From: Mimica-Dukic, N., Bozin, B., Sokovic, M., & Simin, N. (2004). Antimicrobial and antioxidant activities of Melissa officinalis L.(Lamiaceae) essential oil. Journal of agricultural and food chemistry, 52(9), 2485-2489.
ANAESTHETIC
- The study tested anaesthetic activity of β-caryophyllene, one of the main components of clove oil from S. aromaticum. From: Ghelardini, C., Galeotti, N., Mannelli, L. D. C., Mazzanti, G., & Bartolini, A. (2001). Local anaesthetic activity of β-caryophyllene. Il Farmaco, 56(5), 387-389.
ANTI-CANCER
- β-caryophyllene facilitates the passage of paclitaxel through the membrane and thus for anticancer activity. From: Legault, J., & Pichette, A. (2007). Potentiating effect of β‐caryophyllene on anticancer activity of α‐humulene, isocaryophyllene and paclitaxel. Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmacology, 59(12), 1643-1647.
- Platycladus orientalis, Prangos asperula and Cupressus sempervirens ssp. pyramidalis essential oils were studied and β-caryophyllene and linalool exhibited comparable anti-cancer values to the commercial drug vinblastine. From: Loizzo, M. R., Tundis, R., Menichini, F., Saab, A. M., & Statti, G. A. (2008). Antiproliferative effects of essential oils and their major constituents in human renal adenocarcinoma and amelanotic melanoma cells. Cell Proliferation, 41(6), 1002-1012.
ANXIOLYTIC
- Β-caryophyllene may reduce anxiety and depression. From: Bahi, A., Al Mansouri, S., Al Memari, E., Al Ameri, M., Nurulain, S. M., & Ojha, S. (2014). β-Caryophyllene, a CB 2 receptor agonist produces multiple behavioral changes relevant to anxiety and depression in mice. Physiology & behavior, 135, 119-124.
ANTI-INFLAMMATORY
- Cinnamon essential oil and its constituent: trans-cinnamaldehyde, caryophyllene oxide, l-borneol, l-bornyl acetate, eugenol, β-caryophyllene, E-nerolidol, and cinnamyl acetate demonstrated anti-inflammation in vitro. From: Tung, Y. T., Chua, M. T., Wang, S. Y., & Chang, S. T. (2008). Anti-inflammation activities of essential oil and its constituents from indigenous cinnamon (Cinnamomum osmophloeum) twigs. Bioresource Technology, 99(9), 3908-3913.
- Anti-inflammatory activity was demonstrated in vivo by α-pinene and β-caryophyllene. From: Martin, S., Padilla, E., Ocete, M. A., Galvez, J., Jimenez, J., & Zarzuelo, A. (1993). Anti-inflammatory activity of the essential oil of Bupleurum fruticescens. Planta medica, 59(06), 533-536.
Compiled by: Kathy Sadowski
Updated: 01/04/19
