ALPHA-PINENE

ALPHA-PINENE ((-) -Alpha-Pinene) is a bicyclic monoterpene found in pine trees and other plants, including Cannabis with diverse biological activities [1]. It reduces the growth of a panel of seven Gram-positive bacteria, seven Gram-negative bacteria, and eight yeast strains with MIC values of 0.75-1.29, 1.05-1.59, and 0.7-1.17%, respectively [2]. It has insecticidal activity against C. molestus larvae with LC50 values ranging from 47 to 49 mg/L.3 ALPHA-PINENE (100 μg/ml) induces apoptosis, increases anion superoxide production and DNA fragmentation, and activates caspase-3 in B16/F10 melanoma cells [4]. In a B16/F10 mouse xenograft model, ALPHA-PINENE (100 ml of a 10 mg/ml solution) reduces the number of metastatic lung nodules by approximately 7-fold. ALPHA-PINENE (8.6 mg/L, aerosol) also increases the time spent in the open arms of the elevated plus maze by approximately 2-fold in mice, indicating anxiolytic-like activity [5].