Isopulegol Terpene

Isopulegol is a minor terpene occurring in cannabis and other aromatic plants, structurally related to pulegone. It is commonly associated with minty, cooling, and herbal sensory profiles. Lineage records frequently report isopulegol presence in strains descended from mint-forward genetics or high-myrcene backgrounds. The compound remains relatively understudied in cannabis breeding contexts compared to major terpenes like limonene or pinene. Its detection typically requires gas chromatography or advanced analytical methods, as concentrations are usually below 1% in flower.

Breeders working in menthol-forward or cooling-aroma categories occasionally track isopulegol as a secondary marker, though selection pressure on this single terpene is rare. Most documentation occurs as a byproduct of broader terpene profiling rather than targeted genetic work.