“The widespread dietary plant sesquiterpene hydrocarbon β-caryophyllene is a CB2 cannabinoid receptor-specific agonist showing anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects in vivo…

Our study shows that by removing the conformational constraints induced by the medium-sized ring and by introducing functional groups in the sesquiterpene hydrocarbon 1, a new scaffold with pronounced polypharmacological features within the endocannabinoid system could be generated.

The structural and functional repertoire of cannabimimetics and their yet poorly understood intrinsic promiscuity may be exploited to generate novel probes and ultimately more effective drugs.”

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24831513

“Involvement of peripheral cannabinoid and opioid receptors in β-caryophyllene-induced antinociception…β-caryophyllene (BCP) is a common constitute of the essential oils of numerous spice, food plants and major component in Cannabis… The combined injection of morphine and BCP may be an alternative in treating chemogenic pain.” http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23138934