CBG everything you need to know about this cannabinoid
What is CBG?
CBG was first discovered in Israel in 1964. Researchers Yehiel Gaoni and Raphael Mechoulam isolated CBG, THC and CBD from cannabis. At the time, they may not have realised how important their discovery w more about cannabinoids. Research has shown that CBG and other cannabinoids can have potentially remarkable effects on the human body.
How does CBG work?
Like other cannabinoids, CBG has an effect on endocannabinoid system in the human body. The endocannabinoid system is a complex set of receptors (CB1 and CB2 receptors), chemicals called endocannabinoids and enzymes.
Endocannabinoids are compounds that the human body produces. They bind to CB1 and CB2 receptors. Their role is to help regulate many of our physiological functions and maintain a state of internal balance.
CB1 receptors are found primarily in the nervous system and brain, and CB2 receptors elsewhere in the body, primarily in cells of the immune system. Many different endocannabinoids can bind to these receptors, the best known being anandamide (AEA) and 2-arachidonoylglycerol (2-AG).
AEA binds primarily with CB1 receptors and acts as a neurotransmitter affecting our cognitive function and mood. In contrast, 2-AG binds with CB1 and CB2 receptors and produces anti-inflammatory effects. The cannabinoids in cannabis can also bind with these receptors due to their similar shape. THC binds with CB1 receptors, changing the way we think and producing psychoactive effects. CBD does not bind directly to these receptors, but affects how they react with other cannabinoids.
Research has shown that CBG binds primarily with CB2 receptors. It has also been shown that at high doses it can block the binding of other compounds to CB1 receptors. However, CBG, unlike CBD, does not appear to alter the effects of THC. This complex interaction between different plant cannabinoids and endocannabinoids system organism is known as the entourage effect. Scientists are just beginning to figure out all of its effects. Although some experts suggest that taking cannabinoids in combination with each other is more beneficial than taking any of them alone.
What is CBG good for and what is it used for?
We still know relatively little about the potential benefits of CBG. However, initial research suggests that it may be a useful tool to help with a range of physical and psychological problems. Let's take a look at the research to date and how CBG affects the human body.
Anti-inflammatory effects of CBG
CBG appears to have anti-inflammatory effects. Therefore, it could potentially help in managing the symptoms of many different chronic diseases. A study of the effects of CBG in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) has produced interesting results. Researchers found that CBG reduced inflammatory markers in mice with induced IBD and alleviated colitis. Based on these findings, the study authors suggested that CBG for the treatment of IBD be further tested in humans.
If scientists can confirm the anti-inflammatory effects of CBG, this may have canabinoid a wide range of applications far beyond the treatment of colitis. Chronic inflammation is most commonly associated with painful ailments such as arthritis. However, it is also linked to many serious disorders, including high blood pressure, heart disease, diabetes, depression and cancer.
It is therefore highly desirable to find new ways to reduce inflammation so that these potentially fatal problems can be prevented and treated. Although more research is needed, cannabinoids, including CBG, appear to be very promising in this regard.
Neuroprotective effects of CBG
In addition to its anti-inflammatory effects, CBG can also act as an antioxidant and protect the nervous system from damage. It does this in a similar way to endocannabinoid 2-AG.
An animal study on the neuroprotective effects of CBG has produced interesting results. It found that CBG can help improve motor deficits and protect neurons in neurodegenerative diseases such as Huntington's disease.
A 2021 review outlined the pharmacological effects of cannabigerol. In the review, previous studies were analysed and researchers concluded that CBG has therapeutic potential for the treatment of neurological disorders such as MS, Parkinson's disease and Huntington's disease.
Antimicrobial effects of CBG
CBG, along with other cannabinoids, has shown antibacterial effects. When scientists tested it in the laboratory against different strains of Staphylococcus aureus, CBG was found to have significant antimicrobial properties. This finding could be particularly important in the future, as antibiotic resistance is becoming more common.
CBG as an appetite stimulant
According to the conclusions of a 2015 study, CBG is a very promising appetite stimulant. Researchers gave rats either CBG or a placebo and monitored their eating habits. The rats that received CBG increased the number of meals and doubled their overall food intake. However, neither the amount of food eaten nor the duration of eating was affected.
No adverse effects were observed in rats given CBG. This could potentially make this cannabinoid a promising therapy tool for conditions such as anorexia and cachexia.
CBG for bladder problems
A 2015 study of cannabinoid use in bladder dysfunction found that they could reduce acetylcholine-induced bladder contractions in mice. Of all the cannabinoids tested, CBG was one of the most effective, along with Δ9-tetrahydrocannabivarin (THCV). CBG has also been shown to reduce these contractions in humans.
Other uses of CBG
CBG is just beginning its journey out of the shadow of THC and CBD. New research is shedding more light on its potential health benefits. It is thought that, in addition to affecting CB1 and CB2 receptors, CBG may also affect α2-adrenoceptors and 5-HT1A serotonin receptors in the nervous system.
It is also possible that CBG may block the reuptake of the neurotransmitter noradrenaline by cells. If this proves to be the case, then CBG could also be useful in combating symptoms of depression.
How is CBG obtained?
One of the problems facing manufacturers of CBG-containing products is the relatively small amount of this cannabinoid in cannabis. It is unusual for a variety to contain at least 1 % cannabigerol. Unless it is specially bred. There are even varieties specially bred to contain more than 20% CBD. Industrial hemp also contains high levels of CBD. But all of them have only a tiny amount of CBG.
CBG is considered one of the rarest cannabinoids to work with. Thousands of kilograms of biomass are needed to produce a tiny amount of cannabigerol isolate. The production of CBG involves heating cannabigerol acid so that it undergoes a decarboxylation process. Hydrocarbon, ethanol or CO extraction can be used to extract CBG from biomass2.
The best time to extract CBG is early in the plant's life cycle. The longer the plant matures, the more likely it is that the CBG and CBGA present will be converted into other cannabinoids. After all, THC and CBD start out as CBGA. Growers therefore have to decide whether to harvest the crop early to maximise the CBG content or let it mature. The best time to harvest plants for CBGA is after about six weeks of the eight-week flowering cycle.
The CBG extraction process also requires sophisticated and expensive equipment. The chromatographic apparatus used to isolate and purify cannabigerol extracts must be extremely precise. High initial production costs for processors are responsible for the fact that there are relatively few products on the market with significant CBG content.
Effects of CBG
Those who take CBG immediately report an increased sense of calm. Most users, however, admit that the benefits of CBG come to them more gradually than .
In terms of side effects, excessive consumption of CBG can lead to the following symptoms:
- dry mouth
- changes in appetite - while CBD may reduce appetite, CBG could increase it
- diarrhea
- Fatigue
However, there is virtually no research that looks exclusively at whether CBG has adverse effects on humans. However, a study published in the journal Psychopharmacology (Berlin) in 2016 showed that rats kanabinoid tolerated it very well.
Does CBG have psychoactive effects?
No. Cannabigerol is not intoxicating, so you won't get a feeling of intoxication. CBG doesn't affect the brain's CB1 receptor like THC does. That's one of the similarities between CBD and CBG. But they are not exactly the same.
How is CBG different from CBD?
It is easy to think that CBG and CBD are almost identical. After all, both of these cannabinoids are non-psychoactive, have anti-inflammatory effects, and can potentially help with health problems such as pain, anxiety, and depression. However, they have slightly different chemical formulas:
CBG: C21H32O2
CBD: C21H30O2
As you can see, there is a slight difference between the arrangement of their hydrogen atoms. Their 3D models have different shapes and they also interact differently with the cannabinoid receptors in the body.
It also seems likely that CBG and CBD use different mechanisms of interaction with the serotonin 5-HT1A receptor. While CBG blocks it, CBD activates it. There is even the possibility that CBG may block the anti-nausea effects of CBD. It is also possible that CBG is even more effective than CBD because it is actually the "parent" cannabinoid. Every other cannabinoid, including CBD, begins its existence as CBG, only then does it transform. However, because there is so little CBG in cannabis, it is very challenging to create products containing this cannabinoid. In addition, there is much more research on CBD than CBG.
Reducing the cost of extraction would ensure that CBG would be more readily available and perhaps better explored. With a growing range of products, the question arises: is CBG legal?
CBG use and the law
In our country, cannabis is legal, which has a maximum THC content of up to 0.3%. In the Czech Republic, this limit will increase to 1% from 2022.
Like CBD, hemp-derived CBG is legal. However, the authorities have not approved CBG as an official medicine and companies must market it as a dietary supplement or food additive.
CBG is not classified as a banned substance under the 1961 UN Convention on Narcotic Drugs. It is also not listed in the 1971 UN Convention on Psychotropic Substances. Therefore, CBG should be legal if handled according to the same rules as CBD.
As the availability of CBG increases, so does the number of products on the market. You can buy it in many of the same forms as CBD, including the following:
- preparations with external use
- gels
- tinctures
- Isolates
- chewing gum
- dry flowers
- sublingual tablets
It is advisable to consult a doctor when taking CBG, especially if you are taking any medications for a long time. This may include, but is not limited to, the following medications:
- antihistamines
- blood thinners
- painkillers
- blood pressure medication
- corticosteroids
- medicines for the digestive tract
- Immunosuppressants
- drugs for erectile dysfunction
Although it is not clear whether CBG has the same effect on these drugs as CBD, it is better to use it with caution.
Conclusion
However, it appears to have a dramatic effect on many of the body's vital systems. We will certainly learn more about this cannabinoid and how it affects us in the future. However, the initial research is extremely promising.
Although its chemical structure is similar to that of CBD, it has some different effects. For example, it appears to interact differently with the serotonin 5-HT1A receptor.
Ultimately, more research needs to be done to fully understand endocannabinoid system. This will help us to understand the role that cannabis plays in human health and in the fight against disease. However, we are gradually moving towards this understanding. Hopefully, we will soon have a fuller picture of how these cannabinoids affect our health and well-being.
Today, CBG is legal and the range of CBG products is constantly growing. However, until companies are able to reduce the cost of extraction, cannabigerol will remain an ash heap among cannabinoids.
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