What is CBG (Cannabigerol)?

What is CBG (Cannabigerol)?

CBG (Cannabigerol) is a non-psychoactive phytocannabinoid derived from Cannabis sativa that serves as the biosynthetic precursor to other major cannabinoids like CBD and THC, and is currently marketed as an over-the-counter topical pain relief product with emerging evidence for anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and neuroprotective properties. 1, 2, 3

Chemical Origin and Biosynthesis

• CBG originates from cannabigerolic acid (CBGA), which undergoes decarboxylation through heat to form the neutral cannabinoid CBG 2, 3
• CBGA is the direct biosynthetic precursor to both cannabidiol (CBD) and Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), earning it the designation as the "mother of all cannabinoids" 3, 4
• CBG is present in Cannabis sativa at very low concentrations (<1% per dry weight), making extraction from plant sources challenging and expensive 5
• Modern production utilizes yeast fermentation technology as a more sustainable and cost-effective alternative to plant-based extraction 5

Pharmacological Mechanisms

• CBG is metabolized in the liver by the enzyme CYP2J2 to produce hydroxyl and di-oxygenated products 2
• CBG acts as a partial agonist at both CB1 and CB2 cannabinoid receptors and regulates endocannabinoid signaling 2
• Pharmacological targets include transient receptor potential (TRP) channels, cyclooxygenase enzymes (COX-1 and COX-2), cannabinoid receptors, 5-HT1A receptors, and alpha-2 adrenergic receptors 2, 6
• The anti-nociceptive effects of CBG are mediated through CB1, CB2, and α2-adrenergic receptors, but not through TRPV1 channels 6

FDA-Approved Indications and Formulations

• CBG is currently approved for temporary pain relief as a topical cream formulation 1
• The maximum strength formulation contains 125mg total CBG in a 2 fl oz (59mL) topical pain relief cream 1
• Inactive ingredients include aloe leaf juice, coconut oil, emu oil, glycerin, methylsulfonylmethane (MSM), and various emulsifiers 1

Clinical Evidence for Therapeutic Effects

Pain Management

• CBG attenuates mechanical hypersensitivity in cisplatin-induced peripheral neuropathy in both male and female mice, with effects blocked by CB2 receptor antagonists 6
• CBG combined with CBD oil (10 mg/kg) was more effective than pure CBG alone at reducing mechanical hypersensitivity in neuropathic pain models 6
• CBG appears specific for neuropathic pain rather than other pain types, showing no efficacy in formalin or tail-flick thermal pain assays 6

Patient-Reported Outcomes

• In a survey of 127 CBG-predominant cannabis users, 51.2% used CBG solely for medical purposes, most commonly for anxiety (51.2%), chronic pain (40.9%), depression (33.1%), and insomnia (30.7%) 4
• The majority of users rated their conditions as "very much improved" or "much improved" with CBG, with 73.9% claiming superiority over conventional medicines for chronic pain 4
• 44% of users reported no adverse events, with the most common being dry mouth (16.5%), sleepiness (15%), increased appetite (11.8%), and dry eyes (8.7%) 4
• 84.3% reported no withdrawal symptoms, with sleep difficulties being the most frequently endorsed withdrawal symptom (2 respondents only) 4

Dermatological Applications

• In a 20-subject clinical trial, 0.1% CBG serum showed statistically significant improvement in transepidermal water loss (TEWL) and reduction in redness after sodium lauryl sulfate-induced irritation 5
• CBG regulates more genes than CBD in 3D human skin equivalents, including several key skin targets 5
• CBG reduces reactive oxygen species levels in human dermal fibroblasts better than vitamin C 5
• CBG inhibits pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-1β, IL-6, IL-8, TNF-α) from UVA, UVB, chemical irritants, and C. acnes, often more potently than CBD 5

Other Biological Activities

• Pre-clinical findings demonstrate CBG reduces intraocular pressure, possesses antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-tumoral activities 2
• CBG exhibits anti-anxiety, neuroprotective, and appetite-stimulating effects in animal models 2

Critical Clinical Considerations

• CBG exhibits a benign adverse event profile with negligible withdrawal symptoms based on current patient survey data 4
• The relatively rapid metabolism of CBG suggests its blood or oral fluid concentration could potentially be used to determine recent cannabis use 3
• CBG's broad range of biological activities suggests potential for multidirectional pharmacotherapy, though randomized controlled trials are needed 3, 4
• Due to low natural concentrations in cannabis plants, therapeutic-grade CBG products increasingly rely on biosynthetic production methods 5