Beyond cannabis, ocimene is found in numerous plants such as hops, kumquats, mangoes, basil, bergamot, lavender, orchids, pepper, and more. It is also used in the perfume industry thanks to its sweet, floral and herbaceous fragrances. It is thought that ocimene may have a role in plants’ defence mechanisms and help to deter pests.
Not a huge amount of study has been done into the therapeutic benefits of ocimene. However, there is some research that suggests it may have anti-inflammatory properties and it may also be able to help treat the symptoms of diabetes by inhibiting the proliferation of certain enzymes. However, it is present in very small quantities in cannabis, making it unlikely that these benefits will be felt. Furthermore, ocimene was incidental to most of these studies, rather than the focus of the studies themselves.
