What is CBG and It’s Benefits?

There are over 100 cannabinoids found in the cannabis plant. Most of us are familiar with two of the most prominent cannabinoids, THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) and CBD (cannabidiol). However, another compound that is worth learning about is CBG (cannabigerol).

If you aren’t particularly familiar with CBG, it is probably because it is usually not present in large quantities in many cannabis strains. In most strains, it typically only includes around 1% of CBG as compared to CBD and THC where the percentages are much higher. Yet, this cannabinoid still has the potential to provide a range of medicinal benefits.

What Are The Medicinal Benefits of CBG?

Research shows that CBG can be used to help alleviate pain without the psychoactive side effects often associated with THC. While human studies related to CBG are scarce, there have been promising animal studies that this compound can potentially be beneficial for the following conditions below.

Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD)

In 2013, a study was conducted where researchers induced inflammations that were similar to IBD in the colons of lab mice. After, they administered CBG and found that the cannabinoid was able to reduce inflammation and the production of nitric oxide.

Glaucoma

In the Journal of Ocular Pharmacology and Therapeutics, researchers administered CBG to cats with glaucoma. The results indicated that there was a reduction in eye pressure as well as increased levels of aqueous humor outflow which is a fluid that is produced which maintains eye pressure.

Fighting Cancer Cells

A recent study in 2020 was conducted on the antibiotic potential of marijuana. During the study, results showed that CBG has antibacterial properties, specifically against Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus which is a bacteria that causes staph infections.

Antibacterial Properties

In 2014, researchers discovered that CBG showed promising effects in blocking receptors that cause cancer cell growth on rats that had colon cancer.

While evidence of CBG is still minimal, scientists hope to continue their research on this compound and discover more potential medicinal and therapeutic benefits.