The Lowdown on CBG

Although cannabis is a complex plant with more than 400 chemical entities, the weed industry has — for the most part — remained fixated on two particular cannabinoids: THC and cannabidiol (CBD). But other cannabinoids are starting to emerge into the spotlight.   One of these so-called 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.

 

CBGA is the chemical precursor to THCA and CBDA, playing a pivotal role in the biochemistry of the cannabis plant.   CBG interacts with both the CB1 and CB2 receptors, potentially inhibiting the intoxicating effects of THC. CBG has also 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.

 

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. Axim Biotechnologies, a New York-based cannabinoid pharmaceutical company, has successfully filed for numerous patents involving CBG and CBD, including a patent to develop cannabis-infused toothpaste and mouthwash, as well as a topical cream containing both CBD and CBG, which is intended to reduce symptoms associated with atopic dermatitis, or eczema. Additionally, the company was recently granted a patent for anti-microbial compositions including cannabinoids, and plan to create a CBG-based powder to treat symptoms of athlete’s foot and fungus.

 

• 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 conducted on lab mice 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.

 

• Anti-Tumor Growth: Several studies have also found that CBG could inhibit the growth of cancer cells and, as one 2016 study on lab rats published in a German journal discovered, could act as an appetite stimulant, which could translate into a beneficial treatment for chemotherapy patients. In a 2016 study published in the Journal of Neuroimmune Pharmacology, researchers concluded that “non-psychoactive plant-derived” cannabinoids, including CBG, could act as direct inhibitors of tumor progression. Those findings are supported by a 2014 study in Carcinogenesis, which reached a similar conclusion that CBG could hinder tumor growth in colon cancer, as well a 2006 study in The Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics that found CBG may be an effective treatment for breast cancer.

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