What is CBG?

CBG, or cannabigerol, is a non-psychoactive compound sometimes known as “the mother of all cannabinoids,” a class of over 110 organic chemicals in the cannabis plant. It gets this name because its precursor, cannabigerolic acid or CBGA, is the “stem cell” from which other cannabinoids like THC and CBD are formed. However, CBG itself is only present in trace amounts in most modern cannabis strains — it usually comprises around 1-2 per cent of a strain’s total cannabinoid content. 

This makes extracting it and manufacturing CBG-rich products an expensive proposition. Still, we're proud to offer our wellgora CBG Oils to our customers, allowing them to unlock the full benefit of the hemp plant at an affordable price.

What Are the Medical Applications of CBG?

CBG has been studied for a wide range of potential purposes, from relieving glaucoma symptoms to easing the discomfort of people with irritable bowel syndrome. Here are some of the most promising findings:

CBG could slow the growth of cancerous tumours.
Several studies have suggested that CBG could be a helpful treatment for several types of cancer. A 2009 study in Trends in Pharmacological Sciences found that CBG was one of several cannabinoids “shown to exert anti-proliferative/pro-apoptotic effects … in a panel of tumour cell lines” including human breast, prostate, and colorectal cancers. Along with CBD, it was the only cannabinoid to inhibit the growth of prostate cancer cells. 

More recently, a 2014 study in the journal Carcinogenesis bolstered the idea that CBG could be effective at treating colorectal cancer (CRC). Although it was conducted on mice rather than human subjects, the researchers found the results encouraging enough to state, “CBG hampers colon cancer progression in vivo and selectively inhibits the growth of CRC cells … [it] should be considered translationally in CRC prevention and cure.”

CBG might help you relax and feel better.
A 2006 study with the delightful title of “A cannabigerol extract alters behavioural despair in an animal model of depression” found that, at least for rats, CBG could be a helpful tool for alleviating depression. No similar trials have been conducted on humans. Still, a 2010 paper in the British Journal of Pharmacology found that CBG has the potential to inhibit 5-HT(1A) receptors, often known as serotonin receptors, which are often a target for antidepressant drugs. 

Interestingly, a 1975 study on cannabinoids’ ability to block the brain’s uptake of GABA (a chemical associated with anxiety and tension) is often cited as evidence of CBG’s anti-anxiety potential — but the study found that cannabinoids like THC and CBD were much more effective. 

CBG could protect your brain.
In 2015, researchers writing in the journal Neurotherapeutics investigated how CBG could affect the brains of mice with Huntington’s disease. This fatal and incurable neurodegenerative disease involves the breakdown of brain cells, leading to symptoms similar to Alzheimer’s. 

They found that CBG was “extremely active as neuroprotectant … improving motor deficits and preserving striatal neurons against [toxicity].” CBG also seemed to help repair cells that had already been damaged. This gave the researchers a positive impression of the potential “for the use of CBG, alone or in combination with other phytocannabinoids or therapies, for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases such as [Huntington’s disease].”

CBG might be effective at treating drug-resistant bacteria.
Like its fellow cannabinoid CBC, CBG is a beneficial antifungal agent, but it shines in an antimicrobial role. A 2008 paper from Italian researchers revealed that CBG “showed potent activity against a variety of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) strains of current clinical relevance.” 

In plain English, CBG could offer protection against staph infections that can’t be treated with common antibiotics.

Many more studies and research needs to be done on CBD, and all cannabinoids to further understand the potential benefits of promoting a healthy endocannabinoid system and how that affects daily living, wellgora is committed to expanding awareness of the safety, efficacy and benefits of the whole hemp plant.

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