What Is Cannabigerol (CBG)?

Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsConcentrations in PlantsHow It WorksPotential BenefitsHow It’s ConsumedSide EffectsCBG vs. CBD

Table of ContentsView All

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Table of Contents

Concentrations in Plants

How It Works

Potential Benefits

How It’s Consumed

Side Effects

CBG vs. CBD

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Cannabigerol(CBG) is a type of cannabinoid found in the cannabis plant. It’s often referred to as the “mother of all cannabinoids.” This is because other cannabinoids are derived from cannabigerolic acid (CBGA), an acidic form of CBG.

CBG is found in smaller quantities than other cannabinoids in cannabis plants, such ascannabidiol (CBD) andtetrahydrocannabinol(THC). This makes consumer products derived from cannabigerol rare and often expensive. However, CBG is growing in popularity because of the many potential benefits the cannabinoid offers.

The Most Important Thing to Know About About CBGAlthough CBG is derived from plants, research is in its early stages as to the potential benefits and risks associated with its use. Additionally,marijuana is addictive, so using this drug for its potential CBG benefits may do more harm than good.

The Most Important Thing to Know About About CBG

Although CBG is derived from plants, research is in its early stages as to the potential benefits and risks associated with its use. Additionally,marijuana is addictive, so using this drug for its potential CBG benefits may do more harm than good.

CBG Concentration in Plants

CBG is derived from young cannabis plants, which contain higher amounts of this cannabinoid than plants that are fully developed. Both CBD and THC start as CBGA, an acidic form of CBG. This is why younger cannabis plants contain higher concentrations.

Conversely, in fully developed plants with high concentrations of THC and CBD, you’ll find very low concentrations of CBG. In most plant strains, only 1% of CBG can be found.This happens because most of the CBG has already been converted as the plant developed.

Some strains of cannabis have higher CBG content due to their genetic and biochemical makeup.Because of the difficulty in getting CBG, cannabis growers have been experimenting with cross-breeding and genetic manipulation to help cannabis plants produce more of this cannabinoid.

White CBG, Super Glue CBG, and Jack Frost CBG are strains specifically cultivated to produce higher quantities of CBG.

How CBG Works

In our bodies, CBG imitatesendocannabinoids, the natural compounds our body makes. But it does not haveTHC’s psychotropic effects, so it will not give you a high.

Cannabinoid Receptors in the Body

Our body contains two types of cannabinoid receptors—CB1 and CB2. CB1 receptors are found in the nervous system and brain, while CB2 receptors are located in the immune system and other areas of the body.

What Dosage of CBD Should You Take?

Potential Benefits of CBG

Research shows that CBG may have therapeutic effects. While more research is needed to learn the exact effects of this cannabinoid and its potential benefits, here are a few of their findings.

Anxiety and Depression

One small-scale study found that the number one reason people used cannabis preparations high in CBG was toreduce anxiety, with one in three using it toease depression.Most of the users reported that they felt that CBG was more effective for these purposes than conventional medicines.

Chronic Pain

In the study mentioned above, the second-most common reason people used CBG was for chronic pain, with 73.9% reporting that it worked better than traditional medicines.Chronic painis pain that lasts three months or more. This type of condition impacts roughly one in five U.S. adults or around 51.6 million Americans.

Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD)

According to one review, between 15% and 40% of people withinflammatory bowel disease(IBD) use cannabis and cannabinoids to increase their appetite as well as to reduce their pain.Although studies have found promise for its effects on IBD, researchers added that high-quality evidence is lacking, as is advice as to the proper dose and mode of administration.

Glaucoma

Individuals with high eye pressure, also known as intraocular pressure (IOP), are at a greater risk ofdeveloping glaucoma.Several studies have looked at the impact of cannabinoids on IOP. Many have found that these cannabis derivatives help lower IOP in both humans and animals, making them a potential glaucoma treatment.

Huntington’s Disease

Huntington’s diseasecauses a breakdown of nerve cells in the brain. Cannabigerol appears to have a positive effect on cell viability while also protecting certain cells (N2a cells) from the toxic effects of excitatory neurotransmitters that, when activated too long, lead to cell death.

Cancer

A 2021 meta-analysis reports that CBG appears to not only stop breast cancer cells from increasing in numbers but may also kill off inflammatory cells associated with this cancer type.

Bacterial Infections

A 2020 study on the antibiotic potential of cannabis found that CBG has antibacterial properties, especially against methicillin-resistant strains ofStaphylococcus aureus.Staphylococcus aureusis also known as MRSA, a drug-resistant bacteria that causes staph infections.

How CBG is Consumed

The most common form of commercially available CBG is oil, but it is rare and expensive. As an alternative, broad-spectrumCBD oilscontain almost all the cannabinoids of cannabis.

Broad-spectrum CBD oils also contain compounds called terpenes, which are responsible for the plant’s smell and are found in many plants, including fruit and herbs. Using cannabinoids together with terpenes is said to increase their combined effectiveness through a phenomenon called the entourage effect.

If you or a loved one are struggling with substance use or addiction, contact theSubstance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) National Helplineat1-800-662-4357for information on support and treatment facilities in your area.For more mental health resources, see ourNational Helpline Database.

If you or a loved one are struggling with substance use or addiction, contact theSubstance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) National Helplineat1-800-662-4357for information on support and treatment facilities in your area.

For more mental health resources, see ourNational Helpline Database.

Side Effects of CBG

Some people experience side effects when taking CBG, with some of the most common being:

Research on the potential side effects and drug interaction risks of CBG and other cannabinoids is expanding, but not enough has been completed yet to reliably determine either.

CBG shares many similarities with CBD:

One of the biggest differences between CBD and CBG is their prevalence within the cannabis plant. Remember that mostcannabis plantscontain only 1% CBG.Conversely, their level of CBD is much higher, with some research indicating that CBD is the second-most abundant compound found within these plants.

CBG also interacts differently with the endocannabinoid system than CBD. CBG binds directly to both CB1 and CB2 receptors and might deliver its benefits to the system more efficiently.

Summary

Although CBG shows promise for its potential health benefits, more research must be conducted to learn its side effects, risks, and more. Until we understand how this cannabinoid works more completely, it remains unclear whether it is safe to use and, if so, in what amounts it would be most therapeutic.

16 Sources

Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

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