What Exactly Is Cannabigerol (CBG)?

Cannabigerol (CBG) is a cannabinoid found in the cannabis plant. It's known as the "mother of all cannabinoids." This is due to the fact that other cannabinoids are derived from cannabigerolic acid (CBGA), which is an acidic form of CBG.

Cannabidiol (CBD) and tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) are two other commonly obtained cannabinoids from cannabis plants (THC). CBG concentrations in cannabis plants are lower than those found in other cannabinoids. Most strains of the plant contain only 1 percent CBG, compared to 20 to 25 percent CBD or 25 to 30 percent THC.

As a result, cannabinoid-derived consumer goods are scarce and frequently expensive. CBG, on the other hand, is gaining popularity as a result of the plethora of potential benefits the cannabinoid has to offer.

How Is CBG Produced?

Because young cannabis plants contain more CBG than fully developed plants, CBG is extracted from them. Some cannabis strains, such as White CBG, Super Glue CBG, and Jack Frost CBG, have higher CBG content than others. These strains are specifically bred to produce higher levels of CBG.

CBD and THC both begin as CBGA, an acidic form of CBG. This is why younger cannabis plants have higher CBG concentrations. CBG concentrations are very low in fully developed plants with high THC and CBD concentrations. This is because the majority of the CBG has already been converted to CBD and THC as the plant has grown.

Cannabis growers have been experimenting with cross-breeding and genetic manipulation to help cannabis plants produce more CBG due to the difficulty in obtaining CBG.

How Does CBG Work?

The endocannabinoid system in the body processes CBG. The endocannabinoid system in our bodies is made up of molecules and receptors that are in charge of keeping our bodies in an optimal state regardless of what is going on in our external environment. CBG mimics endocannabinoids, which are natural compounds produced by our bodies. The Body's Cannabinoid Receptors CB1 and CB2 cannabinoid receptors are found in our bodies. CB1 receptors can be found in the nervous system and brain, whereas CB2 receptors can be found in the immune system and other parts of the body. CBG works by binding to both receptors, where it is thought to strengthen the function of anandamide, a neurotransmitter involved in pleasure and motivation, appetite and sleep regulation, and pain relief.

CBG, unlike THC, has no psychotropic effects and thus will not give you a high. CBG's Potential Advantages CBG, like CBD, has been used to treat pain without the intoxicating effects of cannabinoids such as THC. CBG has been shown in studies to have therapeutic effects. However, human studies on this topic are limited, and more research is needed in this area. Some promising animal studies indicate that CBG may eventually be found useful for the therapeutic benefits listed below.

Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD)

Inflammatory bowel disease is a chronic inflammatory condition of the bowel. It affects millions of people worldwide and is incurable. In 2013, an experimental animal study found that CBG was beneficial for inflammatory bowel disease. Researchers induced IBD-like inflammations in mice colons before administering CBG. CBG has been shown to reduce inflammation and the production of nitric oxide. It also reduced the synthesis of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in the intestines. They concluded that CBG should be investigated for clinical trials in IBD patients.

Glaucoma Researchers discovered that CBG has therapeutic potential for the treatment of glaucoma in an animal study. Researchers gave CBG to glaucoma-affected cats and observed a decrease in eye pressure and an increase in aqueous humor outflow, a fluid produced by the eye that maintains eye pressure and provides nutrition to the eye.

The disease Huntington's

Huntington's disease is a neurological disorder that results in the breakdown of nerve cells in the brain. Researchers investigated the potential neuroprotective properties of CBG and other cannabinoids in mice with an experimental model of Huntington's disease in a 2015 study. CBG was discovered to act as a neuroprotectant, preventing nerve cell damage in the brain. It also helps to improve motor deficits and protects striatal neurons from 3-nitropropionic acid toxicity.

Antibacterial Actions

CBG has antibacterial properties, according to a 2020 study on cannabis' antibiotic potential. Especially against methicillin-resistant strains of Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), a drug-resistant bacteria that causes staph infections.

Cancer Cells Defeated

Researchers observed the effects of CBG on rats with colon cancer in a 2014 study. CBG showed some promise in blocking the receptors that cause cancer cell growth and inhibiting the growth of colorectal cancer cells, according to the researchers. They suggested that the use of CBG should be considered translationally in the cure and prevention of colon cancer.

How to Use CBG

The most common way CBG is produced for consumers is as an oil. You can get the benefits of CBG by using pure CBG oil. However, CBG oils are rare and expensive. The good news is that you can reap some of CBG's benefits by using broad-spectrum CBD oils.

Broad-spectrum CBD oils contain all of the cannabinoids found in cannabis plants, including CBG, but not THC. When cannabinoids are used together, they can boost each other's effectiveness through a phenomenon known as the entourage effect.

CBG versus CBD

CBG and CBD are frequently compared because they share many similarities and both act on the endocannabinoid system. CBG and CBD are both non-psychoactive, which means they will not alter your mental state in the same way that THC will. If you consume a cannabis plant, they can reduce the psychotropic effect of THC. One of the most significant differences between CBD and CBG is the amount found in most cannabis plants. The majority of cannabis plants contain only 1% CBG but up to 25% CBD.

CBG interacts with our endocannabinoid system in a different way than CBD. CBG binds directly to both CB1 and CB2 receptors, suggesting that it may be more effective at delivering its benefits into our systems.

Scarcity of CBG

CBG is extremely scarce due to production difficulties. It is much more difficult to produce than other cannabinoids such as THC and CBD. Because CBG and CBD are so similar, manufacturers would prefer to produce CBD. When CBG is manufactured, the products derived from it are extremely expensive.

CBG, on the other hand, has a slew of promising potential benefits, and more research is being conducted to improve the cannabinoid's production and availability