CBG. After hearing or seeing these three letters for the first time, one could most probably imagine anything… It can sound as a shortened saying of a city in USA, a comics character (probably the evil one), or a name of a music band. For some, it could even sound as a condition of a serious illness. Imagine someone saying – ‘Today I had an appointment with my GP and got to know that I have too much CBG in my blood!’ Or else, the expression itself even sounds like ‘OMG’. But really, what does this all stand for? If you turn on a Google search engine on your computer and fill this in, it leads to several different acronyms, that are too interesting not to share. For your entertainment, there are the funniest ones:
CBG Corticosteroid Binding Globulin
CBG Chicago Botanic Garden
CBG Comic Book Guy (The Simpsons)
CBG Compagnie des Bauxites de Guinée (French: Bauxite Company of Guinea; Guinea)
CBG Crazy Boys Generation (band)
And many more… Among around a hundred of acronyms, the one on the 12th place of the list we get is ‘Cannabigerol’.
What is this? And why could this be important?
Our topic will be focused on this (curiously sounding) term, which exclusively covers the whole article. First of, Cannabigerol is a substance that comes from a Cannabis plant. By now, most people familiar with cannabis have heard of such terms as THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) and CBD (cannabidiol), and, of course, most people know their effects. But there are many, many more compounds in this. One of a lesser – known cannabinoids is called cannabigerol (CBG), and while (in most occasions) not present in large quantities, it is, nonetheless, worth learning about this one, – for number of reasons.
So, how is CBG made?
Because it is present in low levels (usually less than 1%) in most cannabis strains, just because of the quantity, CBG is considered one of a ‘minor’ cannabinoids. Cannabis plants naturally produce cannabigerolic acid (CBGA), the precursor to the three main cannabinoid lines: tetrahydrocannabinolic acid (THCA), cannabidiolic acid (CBDA), and cannabichromenic acid (CBCA).
If you’d be wondering how the CBG looks like (or how beautiful it is), here is an example:
This picture resembles the molecule of CBG,- such an important substance, that has been found to act as a matter having a really high affinity,- Cannabigerol has been shown to relieve intraocular pressure, which may be of benefit in the treatment of glaucoma. It has been shown to improve a model of inflammatory bowel disease induced experimentally in mice. CBG can also affect positively the reactions in the brain, therefore can decrease anxiety and muscle tension.
CBG’s potential and medical benefits
CBG is not as much of a known substance, although lab-testing and research is being done on considering a possible high, very positive benefits for a human-kind today and in the future. This might be of a matter that we won’t imagine our lives without it soon, and I mean very soon:
The human body’s built-in endocannabinoid system (ECS) works to keep the body in its balanced state. While there are specific details about how cannabinoids work, in general the endocannabinoid system performs different functions specific to each area of the body. The ECS is largely comprised of endocannabinoids, receptors, and enzymes that are believed to help regulate a variety of functions in humans including sleep, mood, memory, appetite, reproduction, and pain sensation. For example, at an injury site, the ECS can help regulate immune cells to limit inflammation. This means, that it serves a vital purpose for our health and well-being because it regulates key aspects of our biology.
Researches have been done
There are done some specific researches, and results for medicinal use are very promising:
Endocannabinoid receptors are prevalent in eye structures, and interestingly, CBG is thought to be particularly effective in treating glaucoma because it reduces intraocular pressure. It is a powerful vasodilator and has neuroprotective effects to boot.
In a recent 2015 study, CBG was shown to protect neurons in mice with Huntington’s disease, which is characterized by nerve cell degeneration in the brain.
CBG is showing great promise as a cancer fighter. Specifically, CBG was shown to block receptors that cause cancer cell growth. In one such study, it was shown to inhibit the growth of colorectal cancer cells in mice, thereby slowing colon cancer growth.
European research shows evidence that CBG is an effective antibacterial agent, particularly against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) microbial strains resistant to several classes of drugs. Since the 1950s, topical formulations of cannabis have been effective in skin infections, but researchers at the time were unaware of the plant’s chemical composition.
In a very recent 2017 study, researchers showed that a form of CBG was a very effective appetite stimulant in rats. This may lead to a novel non-psychotropic therapeutic option for cachexia, the muscle wasting and severe weight loss seen in late stage cancer and other diseases.
In a study that looked at the effects of five different cannabinoids on bladder contractions, CBG tested best at inhibiting muscle contractions, so it may be a future tool in preventing bladder dysfunction disorders.
Scientists are excited, so should we! These initial CBG results are a path for the bright future. Scientists are promoting further research with CBG alone or in combination with other cannabinoids and use it in therapies for the treatment of multiple maladies. Because it is non-psychotropic, CBG has a promising wide range of potential applications not only for the problems mentioned above, but also as an analgesic, therapy for psoriasis, and effective antidepressant.
