The Sunlight Experiment

Compound Monograph

Myrcene

Myrcene — an earthy, musky, slightly fruity acyclic monoterpene that is a major component of hops and many essential oils, associated with relaxant and hepatoprotective effects.

Work in progress

Classification

Myrcene is an acyclic monoterpene, part of the terpenoids class. The largest class of plant compounds, built from five-carbon isoprene units — the essential-oil aromatics, resins, bitter principles, saponins, and plant sterols.

Terpenoids Monoterpenes

Where Does It Come From? (12)

Myrcene is a naturally occurring acyclic monoterpene, found in Hops, Fennel, Fish Mint and 9 other sources. It is well tolerated orally (low toxicity).

Angelica Angelica archangelica Bay laurel Cannabis Cannabis sativa/indica Fennel Foeniculum vulgare Fish Mint Houttuynia cordata Hops Humulus lupulus Juniper Juniperus communis Lemongrass Cymbopogon citratus Mango Mexican Tarragon Tagetes lucida Muira Puama Ptychopetalum olacoides Wormwood Artemisia absinthium

Research & Evidence

Myrcene is an acyclic monoterpene with an earthy, musky, faintly fruity aroma. It is discussed in only a few of the herbs in this database, so the picture here is intentionally brief:

  • Hops (Humulus lupulus) are described as high in myrcene, which is presented as one of the main aromatic compounds carrying the plant’s medicinal character. Myrcene and other phytochemicals are said to help promote parasympathetic (“rest and digest”) nervous-system dominance, countering states of high stress and insomnia. It is listed among the volatile oils of hops alongside humulene, beta-caryophyllene and farnesene 1,2Reference 1Wren · 1956Potter’s new cyclopaedia of botanical drugs and preparationsReference 2Hoffmann · 2003Medical herbalism: The science and practice of herbal medicine.
  • Hepatoprotective role — in fennel (Foeniculum vulgare), the essential-oil content includes delta-limonene and beta-myrcene, which are suggested to play a key role in the hepatoprotective effect of fennel seed essential oil against carbon-tetrachloride-induced liver damage in rats 3Reference 3H et al. · 2003Hepatoprotective effect of Foeniculum vulgare essential oil, Fitoterapia, vol.
  • It is additionally listed as an essential-oil constituent of fish mint (Houttuynia cordata), muira puama (Ptychopetalum olacoides), angelica (Angelica archangelica), cannabis (Cannabis sativa/indica) and wormwood (Artemisia absinthium), though these monographs do not attach specific activities to it.

This is a short, honest summary reflecting the limited compound-specific material available; the references below are the source-herb citations that genuinely pertain to myrcene.

Toxicity & Safety

Myrcene is consumed routinely as part of hops, herbs, and fruits such as mango, and is regarded as well tolerated at dietary levels. As with other volatile-oil terpenes, concentrated essential oils high in myrcene warrant the usual dose-dependent caution — dilution for topical use and moderation if taken internally — but at the levels found in whole herbs it carries a low risk profile.

References

  1. Wren, R. C. (1956). Potter’s new cyclopaedia of botanical drugs and preparations.
  2. Hoffmann, D. (2003). Medical herbalism: The science and practice of herbal medicine. Rochester, VT: Healing Arts Press.
  3. H. Ozbek, S. Ugras, H. Dulger (2003). Hepatoprotective effect of Foeniculum vulgare essential oil, Fitoterapia, vol. 74, no. 3, pp. 317–319