Terpenes are aromatic compounds found in plants, creating the fragrance found in plants like Lavender, pine, and hemp. These are the same compounds found in essential oils. Terpenes are beneficial for the plants as they either attract or repel insects. Attracting pollinators is crucial to the reproduction of many plant species and the same goes for keeping predators away.
Studies have shown that terpenes may have many different beneficial properties (depending on the type of terpene). Ingesting or smelling these terpenes may have some of the following benefits in humans:
Anti-inflammatory
Antioxidant
Antiviral
Antidiabetic
Anticancer
Antimicrobial
Antidepressant
Neuroprotective
Antianxiety
(“What to know about terpenes,” 2020)
There are many different types of Terpenes and each varies in its terpene concentration and potential benefits. Research is continuing to be done to discover the wide variety of health benefits related to terpenes.