Cannabigerol (CBG) is a cannabinoid that has remarkable properties. Obtaining them is more complex; this is because, on the one hand, it is found in smaller proportions in the plant compared to CBD, and on the other hand, its extraction requires specific strains of cannabis specially grown to increase its production.
CBG: What is
Cannabigerol (CBG), a compound present in all cannabis plants and devoid of psychoactive effects, was discovered in 1964 by the pioneer in cannabis research, Raphael Mechoulam.
This compound is crucial as a chemical precursor to tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD). In other words, both THC and CBD originate from CBG.
In the growth stages of the cannabis plant, CBG is converted to other cannabinoids, resulting in a minimal presence in the mature plant, usually around 1%.
In 2019, scientists at the Polytechnic University of Valencia made a significant breakthrough by developing a strain of cannabis with a high CBG content, more than 15%, by inhibiting the processes that normally convert CBG into other cannabinoids. This achievement allows for more efficient CBG extraction. This discovery has led to the development of other CBG-rich cannabis strains.
Contrary to what one might assume, these varieties are not the result of genetic engineering, but of careful selection and crossing of varieties that naturally produce high amounts of CBG. Thus, generational crosses have resulted in plants with increasing levels of CBG, culminating in specimens with the desired concentration of this cannabinoid.
Properties of CBG
CBG, derived from cannabis, is home to a wide range of beneficial properties. It is attributed qualities such as analgesic, anti-inflammatory, anxiolytic, antibacterial, neuroprotective, appetite regulator and antitumor.
In 2021, researchers from several universities in the United States conducted a survey of consumers of CBG-rich cannabis strains about their use. 40% of those who used them for therapeutic purposes did so to mitigate chronic pain.
CBG is recognized for its analgesic and anti-inflammatory properties. Experiments have shown its ability to inhibit the enzyme that triggers the inflammatory response, suggesting its anti-inflammatory and analgesic potential.
In addition, there are studies that indicate that CBG could have anxiolytic effects and act as an antidepressant. Although promising, these findings require further research for confirmation.
According to Raphael Mechoulam, the discoverer of CBG, this cannabinoid has antibacterial properties superior to those of THC and CBD. It has been shown to be effective against various bacteria, including those resistant to conventional antibiotics.
A 2012 study suggests that CBG may have neuroprotective effects, potentially useful in treating symptoms of diseases such as multiple sclerosis.
In2013, other research revealed that CBG can stimulate appetite, which could be beneficial in treatments against certain types of anorexia, such as cancer-associated anorexia.
Finally, CBG has been reported to inhibit the proliferation of certain cancer cells, including lung, prostate, and colorectal cancers.
How is CBG obtained?
Specifically, CBG is activated by moving from its acidic form to its active form by applying heat, either through photosynthesis or, more commonly, through decarboxylation. The latter method is preferred due to its efficiency in terms of time. In addition, it allows a rigorous control of all the variables involved in the process, thus ensuring the obtaining of a final product of optimal quality.
How to use CBG
The most common use of CBG is in the form of oil. In cannabis plants, this cannabinoid is generally found in small proportions, which entails a certain difficulty and high cost to obtain it in conventional dispensaries. In addition, the process of isolating CBG in flowers is notoriously expensive, due to the specialized equipment needed to carry it out.
For these reasons, facilitating the extraction of CBG from the plant has become an economically attractive goal. This has motivated the breeding and development of cannabis strains especially rich in CBG, in order to increase their availability and production efficiency. Thus, breeders have managed to create strains that contain significantly higher levels of CBG.
Conclusion
Although research is still in development, CBG is already proving to be a promising therapeutic cannabinoid, both on its own and in combination with other cannabinoids such as THC, CBD, and their analogues.
Bibliography and Digital Sources
- Gaoni, Y., & Mechoulam, R. (1964). Isolation, structure, and partial synthesis of an active constituent of hashish. Journal of the American chemical society, 86(8), 1646-1647.
- Russo, E. B., Cuttler, C., Cooper, Z. D., Stueber, A., Whiteley, V. L., & Sexton, M. (2021). Survey of Patients Employing Cannabigerol-Predominant Cannabis Preparations: Perceived Medical Effects, Adverse Events, and Withdrawal Symptoms. Cannabis and Cannabinoid Research.
- Formukong, E. A., Evans, A. T., & Evans, F. J. (1988). Analgesic and antiinflammatory activity of constituents ofCannabis sativa L. Inflammation, 12(4), 361-371.
Deiana, S. (2017). Potential medical uses of cannabigerol: a brief overview. Handbook of Cannabis and Related Pathologies, 958-967.
Ibid. - Appendino, G., Gibbons, S., Giana, A., Pagani, A., Grassi, G., Stavri, M., … & Rahman, M. M. (2008). Antibacterial cannabinoids from Cannabis sativa: a structure− activity study. Journal of natural products, 71(8), 1427-1430.
- Granja, A. G., Carrillo-Salinas, F., Pagani, A., Gómez-Cañas, M., Negri, R., Navarrete, C., … & Muñoz, E. (2012). A cannabigerol quinone alleviates neuroinflammation in a chronic model of multiple sclerosis. Journal of Neuroimmune Pharmacology, 7(4), 1002-1016.
- Brierley, D. I., Whalley, B. J., & Williams, C. M. (2013). Modulation of feeding behaviour by the non-psychoactive phytocannabinoid cannabigerol. Proceedings of Pharmacology, 2013. London: British Pharmacological Society.
- Ligresti, A., Moriello, A. S., Starowicz, K., Matias, I., Pisanti, S., De Petrocellis, L., … & Di Marzo, V. (2006). Antitumor activity of plant cannabinoids with emphasis on the effect of cannabidiol on human breast carcinoma. Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, 318(3), 1375-1387.
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