What Is CBG?

The cannabis industry is growing, and more compounds are being discovered. One of the main compounds is CBG. This article explains what CBG is and how it differs from CBD. Herein you will also learn the health benefits of CBG, how to use this compound, and its legality.  

Cannabigerol (CBG) is a compound derived from hemp or cannabis sativa plants. This compound is in a group of compounds known as cannabinoids. Unlike other cannabinoids, CBG is found in smaller quantities, making it expensive and rare. Due to its many benefits, its popularity is growing across the universe. CBD is commonly referred to as the mother of all cannabinoids. CBG is non-psychoactive, so it cannot make you feel high. It has many properties similar to CBD, and it interacts with cannabinoid receptors to manage conditions, such as pain, mood, appetite, and sleep. 

How Is CBD Extracted?

Cannabis plants, when ripe, contain only 1% of CBG. However, manufacturers have found ways of extracting more CBG from the plant. More CBG can be extracted from a young cannabis plant before CBG is converted into other cannabinoids. Scientists are also doing genetic engineering on the plant, producing more CBG, whether ripe or young. Some strains of cannabis contain a higher amount of CBG. These include super glue CBG, white CBG, and jack frost CBG. These strains are cultivated for CBD and no other cannabinoids.

How Does It Differ From CBD?

According to Martínez et al. (2020), CBG and CBD are both non-psychoactive compounds derived from the hemp plant. They cannot interfere with the brain's working or make you fail a drug test. However, both compounds may interact with pharmaceutical drugs. They have many health benefits, but they treat different conditions and ailments. However, both can treat similar conditions, such as anxiety and depression. CBG can increase your appetite, unlike CBD, which may either increase or decrease. Wakshlag et al. (2020) explained that CBD is found in high concentrations in the hemp plant, while CBG is in very low concentrations. CBD and CBG can counteract the effects of THC, so if one has taken too much THC, you can take either CBD or CBG isolate to reduce the effects.

How Does CBG Work?

Like compound CBD, CBG is processed by the endocannabinoid system. The endocannabinoid system is found in all body parts, including the skin. The system comprises receptors and molecules that keep our body in an optimal state. There are two main endocannabinoid receptors which are CB1 and CB2. CB1 is found in the brain, the nervous system, and CB2 in the immune system and other areas such as the skin. Once you ingest CBG, it binds the two receptors affecting the way they work to transmit information. It enhances pleasure, increases appetite, improves sleep, and alleviates pain.

Health Benefits of CBG

Research is being undertaken on the potential health benefits of CBG. So far, scientific research has found that CBG has different properties such as anti-inflammatory and therapeutic effects. These properties can treat various conditions and diseases, such as;

Killing Cancer Cells

Nahler (2022) observed that administering CBG in high doses to rats with colon cancer reduced tumors and inhibited cancer cell growth. Therefore, CBG may also have the same effects on humans. More research is needed to support this information.

Bacterial Infections

Aqawi et al. (2021) explained that CBG contains antibacterial properties. These properties can fight certain strains of bacteria, such as staphylococcus aureus, which cause infections. Unlike many pharmaceutical antibiotics, bacteria cannot develop resistance to CBG.

Inflammatory Bowel Disease

Inflammatory Bowel Disease is a common condition caused by chronic inflammation in the digestive system. It is characterized by chronic abdominal pain, persistent diarrhea, and rectal bleeding. CBG contains anti-inflammatory properties that can treat this disease. Turcotte et al. (2016) found that CBG reduced inflammation in the colon of the mice involved. CBG facilitated the production of reactive species in the colon that facilitated healing.

Insomnia

Insomnia is a condition characterized by sleeplessness. Sleeplessness or difficulty in staying asleep is mostly caused by anxiety. Kerna et al. (2022) observed that CBG has therapeutic effects that can reduce anxiety, thus improving sleep.

Glaucoma

Glaucoma is an eye condition that attacks the optic nerve, leading to vision damage. It is mostly caused by high blood pressure in the eye. If untreated, it can lead to blindness. The therapeutic effects of CBG and treat this condition. Cairns et al. (2016) observed that CBG can reduce pressure in the eye by increasing the flow of aqueous humor into the eye. Aqueous humor provides the eye with the necessary nutrients and maintains eye pressure. However, these effects were seen in animals. A human study is needed to support these findings.

CBG Improve Appetite

Brierley et al. (2016) showed the effects of CBG on appetite. This compound worked by increasing the hunger levels.

How is CBG Used?

There are different ways in which CBG can be taken. The most common way is taking CBG oil. However, CBG oil is very expensive and rare. If you cannot get this oil, there is an alternative to taking CBD broad-spectrum oil. Broad-spectrum CBD oil contains all other cannabinoids apart from THC. Therefore, taking it may serve you with some CBG. CBG taken along with other cannabinoids can be more effective. Cannabinoids work better when combined than alone through a mechanism referred to as entourage effects.

Is CBG Legal?

The use of CBG is not regulated in most countries, including America. However, any cannabis-based product that does not contain more than 0.3% of THC can be sold both online and in local markets. CBG does not contain THC, so that it can be bought online too. However, some countries do not allow selling cannabis-based products and all their constituents. 

Conclusion

CBG is a cannabinoid derived in smaller amounts from the hemp plant. It can treat conditions such as glaucoma, inflammatory bowel disease, anxiety, and depression and kill cancer cells. Since CBG products are rare and expensive, you can get CBG by taking broad-spectrum CBD oil as it contains CBG. CBG is not psychoactive, and it is legal.

References

Aqawi, M., Sionov, R. V., Gallily, R., Friedman, M., & Steinberg, D. (2021). Antibacterial properties of cannabigerol toward Streptococcus mutans. Frontiers in Microbiology, 12, 656471.

Brierley, D. I., Samuels, J., Duncan, M., Whalley, B. J., & Williams, C. M. (2016). Cannabigerol is a novel, well-tolerated appetite stimulant in pre-satiated rats. Psychopharmacology, 233(19), 3603-3613.

Cairns, E. A., Baldridge, W. H., & Kelly, M. E. (2016). The endocannabinoid system as a therapeutic target in glaucoma. Neural Plasticity, 2016.

Kerna, N. A., Flores, J. V., Chawla, S., Brown, S. M., & Anderson, I. I. (2022). J, Carsrud NDV, Holets HM, Roberson R, Nwokorie U, Pruitt KD.“A Desktop Primer and Practical Review of Cannabis-Containing Compounds and Their Entourage Effects”. EC Neurology, 14, 49-57.

Martínez, V., Iriondo De-Hond, A., Borrelli, F., Capasso, R., Del Castillo, M. D., & Abalo, R. (2020). Cannabidiol and other non-psychoactive cannabinoids for prevention and treatment of gastrointestinal disorders: useful nutraceuticals?. International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 21(9), 3067.

Nahler, G. (2022). Cannabidiol and Other Phytocannabinoids as Cancer Therapeutics. Pharmaceutical Medicine, 1-31.

Turcotte, C., Blanchet, M. R., Laviolette, M., & Flamand, N. (2016). The CB2 receptor and its role as a regulator of inflammation. Cellular and Molecular Life Sciences, 73(23), 4449-4470.

Wakshlag, J. J., Cital, S., Eaton, S. J., Prussin, R., & Hudalla, C. (2020). Cannabinoid, terpene, and heavy metal analyses of 29 over-the-counter commercial veterinary hemp supplements. Veterinary Medicine: Research and Reports, 11, 45.