Researchers at the University of Arizona Health Sciences identified the following compounds: cannabis sativa A plant that could offer a new way to treat fibromyalgia and post-surgical pain. The survey results are pharmacological reportthere is growing evidence that certain cannabis-derived molecules may help relieve chronic pain without causing the psychoactive effects associated with THC.
This study builds on previous work in the lab of Dr. John Streicher, a member of the Comprehensive Center for Pain and Addiction, which found that terpenes can reduce pain in models of inflammation and chemotherapy-related nerve injury.
“Our research shows that terpenes are not a good option for alleviating acute pain from injuries such as stubbing a toe or touching a hot stove. However, we find that using terpenes for chronic or pathological pain can significantly reduce pain,” said Streicher, a professor in the University of Tucson School of Medicine’s School of Pharmacy. “This study is the first to investigate the effects of terpenes in preclinical models of fibromyalgia and postoperative pain, expanding the range of potential analgesic treatments using terpenes.”
Cannabis terpenes exhibit powerful analgesic effects
Terpenes are natural compounds responsible for the aroma and flavor of many plants. In cannabis, they contribute to the plant’s unique aroma and may also have medicinal properties.
Unlike tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), terpenes do not cause the undesirable psychoactive effects often associated with cannabis. This makes them an attractive area of research for scientists seeking new pain treatments.
In this study, researchers looked at four terpenes commonly found in the body. cannabis sativa: Geraniol, linalool, β-caryophyllene, α-humulene.
All four compounds produced substantial analgesic effects in mouse models of fibromyalgia and postoperative pain. Geraniol produced the strongest results, followed by linalool, beta-caryophyllene, and alpha-humulene.
New hope for fibromyalgia treatment
Fibromyalgia remains one of the most difficult chronic pain diseases to treat. The disorder affects muscles and soft tissues throughout the body and is estimated to affect up to 5% of the world’s population, according to a study published in . Healthcare (Basel) In 2023.
According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office on Women’s Health, approximately 4 million adults in the United States alone have fibromyalgia. Women are affected more often than men.
“With fibromyalgia, we don’t really understand what the pain condition is, and we don’t have a lot of good treatment options,” Streicher says. “Our findings indicate that terpenes may be a viable treatment option for fibromyalgia pain, which could potentially have a large impact and make a difference in an undertreated population.”
Potential alternatives for postoperative pain
Researchers also investigated whether terpenes could reduce pain after surgery.
Postoperative pain occupies a unique middle ground between acute and chronic pain. Although usually temporary, surgery can cause biological changes such as inflammation and increased sensitivity within the body’s pain pathways, which can worsen the discomfort.
“While opioids are effective in controlling postoperative pain, they can cause constipation and increase the likelihood of postoperative complications such as adhesions,” Streicher said. “We are always looking for better options, and this study suggests that terpenes may be a new treatment for post-surgical pain.”
According to a study published in International Journal of Surgery In 2020, approximately 310 million major surgical procedures were performed worldwide each year, highlighting the need for safer and more effective pain management options.
Natural compounds continue to surprise scientists
Todd Vandella, Ph.D., director of the Pain and Addiction Center in the University of California Health Sciences and professor and chair of pharmacology at the University of Tucson School of Medicine, said the findings highlight the value of exploring chemicals that occur in nature.
“The work being done in Dr. Streicher’s lab on terpenes and their potential to help people suffering from chronic pain shows the importance of basic research. There are hundreds of undiscovered unique chemicals produced by plants, including the cannabis plant,” Professor Vandella said.
“Nature is amazingly good at creating unique chemical structures, and many of these chemicals are unknown when it comes to their ability to aid human health, disease, and disability. A great current example is the drug Semaglut, sold under the brand name Ozempic. This chemical structure was not isolated from a plant, but from an animal common in the Southwest. These discoveries from natural products, such as those made by Dr. Streicher, could lead to very useful medicines.”
How terpenes work
The research team also found that these compounds appear to work through the same biological pathways identified in previous terpene research.
Specifically, the analgesic effect was associated with adenosine A2a receptors (the receptors that caffeine targets and blocks), suggesting that terpenes may have sedative effects. Researchers say that possibility requires further investigation.
Co-authors of the study include Caleb Seekins, a former biochemistry student in Streicher’s lab who is currently pursuing a medical degree at the Tucson College of Medicine. Alyssa Welborn, Bachelor of Science in Pharmacy, Class of 2024; and Abigail Schwartz, who completed her PhD in Streicher’s lab in 2024.
Funding for this research was provided by the National Institutes of Health under Award no. R01AT011517.
