CONSTITUENT REPORT
alpha-Humulene
alpha-Humulene is a widely distributed sesquiterpene hydrocarbon associated with hops, hemp, copaiba, and other sesquiterpene-rich oils in the AromaForge archive. Compared with many archive constituents, it has a relatively substantial preclinical literature: live source review found anti-inflammatory animal and cell studies, antibacterial and antibiofilm work, and cancer-cell research, plus a recent scoping review noting that clinical translation is still sparse. The evidence remains mostly preclinical, so archive summaries should describe reported research signals without turning them into medical claims.
Chemical identity and composition
PubChem lists humulene as CID 5281520 with formula C15H24 and IUPAC name (1E,4E,8E)-2,6,6,9-tetramethylcycloundeca-1,4,8-triene. NIST WebBook lists CAS 6753-98-6 and the synonym alpha-caryophyllene. In the archive, hops flower is strongly alpha-humulene-rich, with a cited range of 20.20-67.64%, and several other oils including copaiba, ylang-ylang III, spruce-hemlock, and hemp also include it as a named constituent.
Aroma and practical use
- Use the recorded woody, earthy, spicy, hoppy, green descriptors to explore a blend's scent character; perceived strength also depends on the other ingredients.
- Compare the recorded goal signals with the intended purpose, while keeping model assumptions separate from observed study outcomes.
- Review the flagged use concerns across every contributing oil and the selected dilution.
- Read the route, preparation and experimental context before using a study finding to choose an oil.
Reported benefits and effects
Findings retain their study context. An animal or laboratory result describes that experiment.
A 2007 European Journal of Pharmacology paper reported that alpha-humulene reduced multiple induced oedema models in mice and rats and lowered TNF-alpha, IL-1beta, PGE2, iNOS, and COX-2 signals in carrageenan-challenged animals.
A 2007 European Journal of Pharmacology paper reported that alpha-humulene reduced multiple induced oedema models in mice and rats and lowered TNF-alpha, IL-1beta, PGE2, iNOS, and COX-2 signals in carrageenan-challenged animals.
This experimental finding does not establish benefit, dose or safety in people using this blend.
A 2009 pulmonary-inflammation study found that preventive or therapeutic alpha-humulene reduced eosinophil recruitment, lowered IL-5, CCL11, and LTB4, and decreased NF-kappaB, AP-1, P-selectin, and mucus secretion in an ovalbumin-challenged murine model.
A 2009 pulmonary-inflammation study found that preventive or therapeutic alpha-humulene reduced eosinophil recruitment, lowered IL-5, CCL11, and LTB4, and decreased NF-kappaB, AP-1, P-selectin, and mucus secretion in an ovalbumin-challenged murine model.
This experimental finding does not establish benefit, dose or safety in people using this blend.
A 2024 THP-1 macrophage study reported dose-dependent inhibition of IL-6 release by alpha-humulene after LPS induction, while TNF-alpha and IL-1beta were not reduced under the same test conditions.
A 2024 THP-1 macrophage study reported dose-dependent inhibition of IL-6 release by alpha-humulene after LPS induction, while TNF-alpha and IL-1beta were not reduced under the same test conditions.
This experimental finding does not establish benefit, dose or safety in people using this blend.
A 2019 Food and Chemical Toxicology paper reported that alpha-humulene reduced proliferation and induced mitochondrial apoptosis in hepatocellular carcinoma models through inhibition of Akt signaling, with activity seen both in vitro and in xenografts.
A 2019 Food and Chemical Toxicology paper reported that alpha-humulene reduced proliferation and induced mitochondrial apoptosis in hepatocellular carcinoma models through inhibition of Akt signaling, with activity seen both in vitro and in xenografts.
This experimental finding does not establish benefit, dose or safety in people using this blend.
A 2020 in vitro study against enterotoxigenic Bacteroides fragilis reported an MIC of 2 microg/mL, biofilm inhibitory concentration of 2 microg/mL, and reduced expression of the efflux pump genes bmeB1 and bmeB3.
A 2020 in vitro study against enterotoxigenic Bacteroides fragilis reported an MIC of 2 microg/mL, biofilm inhibitory concentration of 2 microg/mL, and reduced expression of the efflux pump genes bmeB1 and bmeB3.
This experimental finding does not establish benefit, dose or safety in people using this blend.
How it contributes to goal calculations
Model markers guide the formulation score. They are separate from the source findings above.
Use concerns and concentration limits
Sensitization concernFlagged
Flagged in the constituent reference; assess the source, route and finished-product concentration.
Phototoxicity concernNot flagged
Not flagged in the current model. This is not proof of absence or unrestricted safety.
Oxidation concernNot flagged
Not flagged in the current model. This is not proof of absence or unrestricted safety.
Penetration enhancementNot flagged
Not flagged in the current model. This is not proof of absence or unrestricted safety.
A recorded constituent reference, not a recommended oil dilution. Product category, source applicability and all contributing oils must be checked before use.
unverified reference · No source provenance attachedA recent scoping review on clinical translation indicates that the overall alpha-humulene evidence base is still dominated by extraction and preclinical studies rather than human trials.
This reference does not establish a therapeutic result or a safe use level for a custom oil blend.
No direct public citation is attached to this entry.
No authoritative standalone public dermal-use limit for isolated alpha-humulene was verified in this pass, despite its inclusion in flavor and fragrance reference listings.
This reference does not establish a therapeutic result or a safe use level for a custom oil blend.
No direct public citation is attached to this entry.
One hepatocellular-carcinoma paper reported weight loss in treated mice, which is a reminder not to frame preclinical dosing studies as established human safety evidence.
This experimental finding does not establish benefit, dose or safety in people using this blend.
No direct public citation is attached to this entry.
Constituents it may interact with
These are research candidates recorded in the interaction matrix. They do not add a proven-amplification bonus to the score.
(E)-CaryophylleneAmplification candidate
Candidate in the research matrix. A coefficient alone does not establish amplification at the dose, route or goal of your blend; no proven amplification is inferred from this row.
animal · effect
No source citation attached.
Read (E)-Caryophyllene report →(E)-beta-CaryophylleneAmplification candidate
Candidate in the research matrix. A coefficient alone does not establish amplification at the dose, route or goal of your blend; no proven amplification is inferred from this row.
in vitro · effect
No source citation attached.
Read (E)-beta-Caryophyllene report →EugenolAmplification candidate
Candidate in the research matrix. A coefficient alone does not establish amplification at the dose, route or goal of your blend; no proven amplification is inferred from this row.
in vitro · antioxidant
No source citation attached.
Read Eugenol report →gamma-TerpineneAmplification candidate
Candidate in the research matrix. A coefficient alone does not establish amplification at the dose, route or goal of your blend; no proven amplification is inferred from this row.
in vitro mechanistic · antioxidant
No source citation attached.
Read gamma-Terpinene report →How the effects were investigated
reduction of pro inflammatory mediators
Animal and cell studies report reduced inflammatory mediators including TNF-alpha, IL-1beta, IL-6, PGE2, iNOS, and COX-2, with additional effects on NF-kappaB and AP-1 signaling in airway-inflammation models.
This experimental finding does not establish benefit, dose or safety in people using this blend.
No direct public citation is attached to this entry.
akt pathway inhibition in hcc models
A hepatocellular-carcinoma study reported that alpha-humulene inhibited Akt activation and downstream GSK-3 and Bad phosphorylation while promoting apoptosis in vitro and in xenografts.
This experimental finding does not establish benefit, dose or safety in people using this blend.
No direct public citation is attached to this entry.
efflux pump gene suppression in biofilm model
In a Bacteroides fragilis study, alpha-humulene reduced expression of the multidrug efflux pump genes bmeB1 and bmeB3 alongside antibacterial and antibiofilm effects.
This experimental finding does not establish benefit, dose or safety in people using this blend.
No direct public citation is attached to this entry.
What this report cannot establish
- A reported constituent percentage does not establish an effective human therapeutic dose or the amount absorbed into the body.
- The presence of a constituent does not guarantee a clinical benefit, rash treatment or sleep improvement from a custom blend.
- An unflagged concern or missing use limit does not establish safety for ingestion, inhalation, skin exposure or a particular person.
- A candidate constituent interaction does not establish that two oils amplify one another at the selected proportions.
- Constituent descriptors alone do not establish a precise top, heart or base lifetime in a finished blend.
Known data gaps (6)
- Human clinical evidence for isolated alpha-humulene remains limited relative to the size of the preclinical literature.
- 2026-07-13 dermal-safety verification pass (Tisserand & Young monograph index, IFRA Standards 51st Amendment library, RIFM Fragrance Material Safety Resource) found no standalone public IFRA-style numeric dermal cap, sensitization dataset, or phototoxicity study for isolated alpha-humulene; dermal_limit_pct remains unverified and should not be treated as sourced.
- Several positive findings come from cell and animal systems that should not be translated into disease-treatment copy.
- The numeric dermal reference lacks source provenance; a verified flag alone is insufficient.
- Some findings do not record an explicit exposure route; consult the linked study before applying them to a use.
- Interaction candidates lack an attached source citation and remain unqualified.