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CBG - What is it?

July 18, 2020

What is CBG?

We all know about CBD (Cannabidiol) but there's a new kid on the block - CBG. CBG (Cannabigerol) is another compound of the cannabis plant, but it's not just any compound. It's known as the Mother Compound. CBG is found in much less abundance in the plant and this makes it difficult to extract in large quantities. It's holds the DNA of all the other compounds. They all start their life as CBG. As the plant grows, CBG is turned into mainly THC or CBD. Typically, a fully grown plant will have only 1% CBG left after converting to other compounds. Growers are experimenting with crossbreeding of strains to obtain higher levels of CBG.

There is far less research on CBG than on THC or CBD.

As of 2019, no clinical research has been conducted to test the specific effects of cannabigerol in humans.

Cannabigerol is under laboratory research to determine its pharmacological properties and potential effects in disease conditions. Contrary to the major psychoactive cannabinoid THC, cannabigerol antagonizes CB1 receptors and is both an alpha2-adrenoceptor agonist and moderate 5HT1A receptor antagonist. Cannabigerol displays CB1 and CB2 binding affinity, and has been evaluated in laboratory models of colitis.

CBG’s potential medical benefits

The human body’s built-in endocannabinoid system (ECS) works to keep the body in its balanced state of homeostasis. While there are specific details about how cannabinoids work, in general the endocannabinoid system performs different functions specific to each area of the body. For example, at an injury site, the ECS can help regulate immune cells to limit inflammation.

CBG has been found to act on very specific physiological systems and problems, and results for medicinal use are promising:

Endocannabinoid receptors are prevalent in eye structures, and interestingly, CBG is thought to be particularly effective in treating glaucoma because it reduces intraocular pressure. It is a powerful vasodilator and has neuroprotective effects to boot.
In animal experiments involving mice, CBG was found to be effective in decreasing the inflammation characteristic of inflammatory bowel disease.
In a recent 2015 study, CBG was shown to protect neurons in mice with Huntington’s disease, which is characterized by nerve cell degeneration in the brain.
CBG is showing great promise as a cancer fighter. Specifically, CBG was shown to block receptors that cause cancer cell growth. In one such study, it was shown to inhibit the growth of colorectal cancer cells in mice, thereby slowing colon cancer growth. CBG inhibited tumors and chemically-induced colon carcinogenesis, therefore demonstrating a very exciting possibility for a cure for colorectal cancer.
European research shows evidence that CBG is an effective antibacterial agent, particularly against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) microbial strains resistant to several classes of drugs. Since the 1950s, topical formulations of cannabis have been effective in skin infections, but researchers at the time were unaware of the plant’s chemical composition.
In a very recent 2017 study, researchers showed that a form of CBG purified to remove delta-9 THC was a very effective appetite stimulant in rats. This may lead to a novel non-psychotropic therapeutic option for cachexia, the muscle wasting and severe weight loss seen in late stage cancer and other diseases.
In a study that looked at the effects of five different cannabinoids on bladder contractions, CBG tested best at inhibiting muscle contractions, so it may be a future tool in preventing bladder dysfunction disorders.

Scientists are excited about these initial CBG results and are promoting future research with CBG alone or CBG in combination with other cannabinoids and therapies for the treatment of multiple maladies. Because it is non-psychotropic, CBG has a promising wide range of potential applications not only for the problems mentioned above, but also as an analgesic, therapy for psoriasis, and as an antidepressant.

We are now stocking the UK's first high strength full spectrum CBG oil that also has equal amounts of CBD too!