Although cannabis is a complex plant with more than 400 chemical entities, the CBD industry has — for the most part — remained fixated on two particular cannabinoids: THC (the compound that give you a 'high') and cannabidiol (CBD). But other non-impairing cannabinoids are starting to emerge into the spotlight.
One of these minor cannabinoids is cannabigerol (CBG), which is gaining attention for its proclaimed anti-bacterial, anti-microbial, and anti-inflammatory properties. While CBG has yet to match the mainstream appeal of CBD, this cannabinoid may soon play a starring role in everyday consumer products as it quietly demonstrates a wide array of highly intriguing medicinal benefits.
“The pharmacological effects of CBG described in the scientific literature include: anti-fungal, anti-insect and anti-inflammatory activity; neuroprotective activity; stimulation of appetite, and enhancement of the death process of cancer cell,” Dr. Itzhak Kurek, CEO and co-founder of Cannformatics, a Northern California biotech company that uses bioinformatics (a combination of biology, computer science, and mathematics, among other scientific disciplines) to improve medical cannabis.
Following the passage of the 2018 Farm Bill, which legalized industrial hemp production and established a THC limit of 0.3%, the industry is starting to realize the potential value that CBG presents from a medicinal standpoint. However, over the last few decades, scientists have left a paper trail of research that shows just how fruitful this relatively unknown cannabinoid could be.
WHAT SCIENCE SAYS ABOUT CBG
CBGA is the chemical precursor to CBD, referred to as the "stem cell" of the plant, and plays a pivotal role in the biochemistry of the cannabis plant. During the flowering cycle, cannabigerolic acid (CBGA) can be converted into cannabidiolic acid (CBDA), the precursor of CBD, by enzymes. Once this phase is complete, the plant only contains trace amounts of CBGA, which can be decarboxylated into CBG. To capture large amounts of CBG, you must harvest young cannabis plants.
CBG interacts with both the CB1 and CB2 receptors. CBG has demonstrated an ability to increase anandamide, commonly referred to as the “bliss molecule,” an endogenous cannabinoid that helps regulate a wide range of bodily functions, including appetite, sleep, mood, and the immune system without the impairing effects of THC.
More research is needed to fully understand what CBG has to offer from a medicinal standpoint, but existing studies have already presented several reasons to be optimistic about the therapeutic potential of CBG.
- Antibacterial Properties: CBG has been identified as having remarkable antibacterial and antimicrobial properties. For instance, in a 2008 study published in the Journal of Natural Products, researchers found that CBG could be a potential treatment for methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), a type of staph infection that is highly resistant to certain antibiotics.
- Glaucoma: In a 1990 study, published in the Journal of Ocular Pharmacology and Therapeutics, researchers were examining how THC and CBG could help lower intraocular pressure in the eyes of cats. The findings concluded that CBG and related cannabinoids may provide therapeutic benefits to patients suffering from glaucoma.
- Inflammation: In a 2007 study published in the Journal of Dermatological Science, researchers found that CBG, along with other cannabinoids, has the potential to treat inflammation caused by psoriasis, a chronic skin condition caused by an overactive immune system. In a 2013 animal study published in Biochemical Pharmacology, CBG also demonstrated the ability to reduce colon inflammation in rats, suggesting that CBG may be an effective treatment for inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) symptoms.
- Neurodegenerative Conditions: In a 2015 study published in Neurotherapeutics, researchers discovered that CBG was “extremely active as neuroprotectant,” and also increased the levels of antioxidant defense. The findings suggest that CBG could be a viable treatment for certain neurodegenerative conditions such as Huntington’s disease.
To learn more, go to: https://journalofcannabinoidmedicine.com/what-is-cbg-the-minor-cannabinoid-with-major-potential-explained/
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