WHAT IS CBG?

WHAT IS CBG?

CBG is a non-psychoactive compound. It works by acting on the cannabinoid receptors to provide relief. Furthermore, CBG has different health benefits, including treating glaucoma, relieving pain, reducing inflammation, stress, and anxiety, and removing harmful bacteria from the skin. Read on to discover more about CBG.  

Cannabis plants are used for different reasons. Many compounds in the plant are associated with different health benefits, such as pain relief, improving sleep, and alleviating inflammation. Although CBD is the main compound in the hemp plant, the cannabis plant also contains other cannabinoids, such as cannabigerol (CBG). CBD and CBG are quite similar compounds but also unique. They both offer a therapeutic impact on the body, and when combined, they work wholesomely for the user’s well-being. Just like CBD, CBG works by binding with the endocannabinoid receptors and is thus believed to strengthen anandamide functioning. Anandamide is a neurotransmitter essential for regulating sleep, appetite, pain alleviation, and enhancing pleasure.

WHAT IS CANNABIGEROL?

Cannabigerol is the mother of all cannabinoids since other cannabinoids are derived from CBGA, the acidic form of CBG. It is a cannabinoid extracted from the cannabis plant, and besides CBG, other popular cannabinoids from the plant are cannabidiol (CBD) and tetrahydrocannabinol (THC).

According to Watt & Karl (2017), THC is the most common compound derived from marijuana that has psychoactive properties. The hemp plant contains more CBD and is thus legalized under various state laws.

For example, in the plant extract, only 1% of CBG will be present compared to 20-25% of CBD and 25-30% of THC. The scarcity of the compound makes CBG products rare and often expensive. Its popularity is connected to the health benefits the compounds are believed to offer the body.

HOW CBG IS MADE

Younger cannabis plants contain a higher amount of CBG, and thus it is the main source. Different types of CBG form the plant, for example, White CBG, Super Glue CBG, and Jack Frost CBG, which are believed to have higher CBG concentrations. The types mentioned earlier are mainly cultivated to produce CBG in large amounts.

CBD and THC start as CBGA, the acidic form of CBG. This lays the basis for a younger plant containing more CBG than fully grown cannabis plants. Therefore, the fully grown plant contains less CBG since it converts to CBD and THC.

 The scarcity of CBG has forced most farmers to cross-breed and perform genetic mutilation to produce more CBG.

HOW CBG WORKS

The human body contains endocannabinoid receptors in various body parts, like the spine, skin, nerves, and brain. The molecular structure of the cannabinoids forms the plant, and receptors are the same. Therefore, cannabinoids interact with the endocannabinoid receptors to relieve pain, inflammation, and anxiety in the body.

The endocannabinoid system is key for functioning the immune system, regulating appetite, and keeping the body at equilibrium despite the external environment.

There are two types of endocannabinoid receptors in the body, known as CB1 and CB2 receptors. CB1 receptors are found in the central nervous system (brain and spine), while CB2 receptors are found in the peripheral nervous system, the spleen, and other body parts. CBG binds to the CB1 and CB2 receptors, strengthening the function of anandamide, a neurotransmitter essential for enhancing pleasure, regulating sleep and pain, and relieving pain. CBG is non-psychoactive and thus does not alter the consumer’s mental state.

POTENTIAL BENEFITS OF CBG

CBG and CBD produce similar therapeutic properties to the body. Furthermore, they are both non-hallucinogenic and thus impact the body without causing a high feeling.

Many research studies have been carried out to determine the impact of CBG on the human body. However, human researches are limited. Some show that CBG has the following properties;

 ANTI-INFLAMMATORY

 According to Hill et al. (2016), CBG has an anti-inflammatory effect and thus can be used to treat different health conditions characterized by swelling. For example, inflammatory bowel disease is a health condition causing severe swelling in the bowel. The condition is faced by many people in the world and is incurable. Research suggests that patients with IBD showed significant change after CBG administration.

TREAT GLAUCOMA

There is no human research on CBG’s effect on glaucoma. According to Kogan et al. (2022), CBG reduces eye pressure and increases the outflow of aqueous humor. Aqueous humor is a fluid produced by the eyes and is essential for providing nutrition for the eyes and maintaining pressure. Glaucoma is an eye condition characterized by high pressure in the eyes. It might lead to blindness when severe.

HUNTINGTON’S DISEASE

CBG can help with different health conditions, including nerve-associated ones. According to Devinsky et al. (2015), CBG can curb Huntington’s disease, a health condition that results in the breakdown of the brain’s nerve cells. Based on the research, CBG, with other cannabinoids, showed the ability to help the condition by acting as a neuroprotectant, protecting brain cells from damage.

 ANTI-BACTERIAL PROPERTY

According to Stahl et al. (2020), CBG has an anti-bacterial effect and thus helps prevent and treat bacterial infections. For example, research shows that CBG can fight against methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), a bacterium that causes staph infections and is majorly resistant to drugs.

 FIGHTING CANCER CELLS

According to Dariš et al. (2019), CBG has shown the ability to block cancer cell growth receptors and prevent colorectal cancer cell growth. Therefore, it is suggested that CBG can help prevent and cure colon cancer. However, there is a need for more research and further scientific backup to the claims.

HOW TO USE CBG

CBG is found mostly in oil form. You can directly use CBG oil orally or topically, although CBG is expensive and rare. However, you can benefit from the cannabinoid by using broad-spectrum CBD.

Broad-spectrum CBD contains all the plant’s other compounds, such as cannabinoids, terpenes, and flavonoids. However, it does not contain THC. The compounds from the plant work together to provide an effect on the body by creating an entourage effect; they complement each other’s potency and effects.

 CBD VS. CBG

CBG and CBG share similarities, and thus they are interconnected. They both interact with the endocannabinoid receptors.

They are also non-psychoactive; they do not alter the user’s mental state. However, when used together with THC, they reduce its psychotropic effect. The major difference is in quantity in the plant.

CONCLUSION

CBG is among the most common cannabinoids after cannabidiol and tetrahydrocannabinol. However, CBG is not widely available like the other compounds due to its scarcity. Furthermore, CBG is found in fewer quantities, making it rare and more expensive. This has made cannabis farmers cross breed and adopts genetic manipulation to produce more CBG. THC and CBD are the product of CBDA, an acidic compound of CBD. Therefore, CBG is high in young plants compared to fully grown plants when the compound is converted to   THC and CBD. Like other cannabinoids, CBG has different health-associated benefits, such as relieving inflammation, pain, and anxiety and treating glaucoma.

REFERENCES

Dariš, B., Verboten, M. T., Knez, Ž., & Ferk, P. (2019). Cannabinoids in cancer treatment: Therapeutic potential and legislation. Bosnian journal of basic medical sciences, 19(1), 14.

Devinsky, O., Whalley, B. J., & Di Marzo, V. (2015). Cannabinoids in the treatment of neurological disorders. Neurotherapeutics, 12(4), 689-691.

Hill, L. A., Bodnar, T. S., Weinberg, J., & Hammond, G. L. (2016). Corticosteroid-binding globulin is a biomarker of inflammation onset and severity in female rats. The Journal of endocrinology, 230(2)

Kogan, N. M., & Mechoulam, R. (2022). Cannabinoids in health and disease. Dialogues in clinical neuroscience.

Lu, X. S., Qiao, Y. B., Li, Y., Yang, B., Chen, M. B., & Xing, C. G. (2017). Preclinical study of cinobufagin as a promising anti-colorectal cancer agent. Oncotarget, 8(1), 988.

Stahl, V., & Vasudevan, K. (2020). Comparison of efficacy of cannabinoids versus commercial oral care products in reducing bacterial content from dental plaque: A preliminary observation. Cureus, 12(1).

Anastasia Filipenko

Anastasia Filipenko is a health and wellness psychologist, dermatolist and a freelance writer. She frequently covers beauty and skincare, food trends and nutrition, health and fitness and relationships. When she's not trying out new skincare products, you'll find her taking a cycling class, doing yoga, reading in the park, or trying a new recipe.

Latest from CBD