Cannabigerol (CBG) is one of more than 120 identified

cannabinoid Cannabinoids () are several structural classes of compounds found in the cannabis plant primarily and most animal organisms (although insects lack such receptors) or as synthetic compounds. The most notable cannabinoid is the phytocannabinoid tet ...

compounds found in the plant genus ''

Cannabis ''Cannabis'' () is a genus of flowering plants in the family Cannabaceae. The number of species within the genus is disputed. Three species may be recognized: '' Cannabis sativa'', '' C. indica'', and '' C. ruderalis''. Alternative ...

''. Cannabigerol is the decarboxylated form of

cannabigerolic acid Cannabigerolic acid (CBGA) is the acidic form of cannabigerol (CBG). It is a dihydroxybenzoic acid and olivetolic acid in which the hydrogen at position 3 is substituted by a geranyl group. It is a biosynthetic precursor to Delta-9-tetrahydrocann ...

, the parent molecule from which other cannabinoids are synthesized. Cannabigerol is normally a minor constituent of cannabis. During plant growth, most of the cannabigerol is converted into other cannabinoids, primarily

tetrahydrocannabinol Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) is the principal psychoactive constituent of cannabis and one of at least 113 total cannabinoids identified on the plant. Although the chemical formula for THC (C21H30O2) describes multiple isomers, the term ''THC' ...

(THC) or

cannabidiol Cannabidiol (CBD) is a phytocannabinoid discovered in 1940. It is one of 113 identified cannabinoids in cannabis plants, along with tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), and accounts for up to 40% of the plant's extract. , clinical research on CBD in ...

(CBD), leaving about 1% cannabigerol in the plant. Some strains, however, produce larger amounts of cannabigerol and

, while having low quantities of other cannabinoids, like THC and CBD. Although cannabigerol is sold as a dietary supplement, its effects and safety for human consumption are undefined.

Biosynthesis

The biosynthesis of cannabigerol begins by loading hexanoyl-CoA onto a

polyketide synthase Polyketides are a class of natural products derived from a precursor molecule consisting of a chain of alternating ketone (or reduced forms of a ketone) and methylene groups: (-CO-CH2-). First studied in the early 20th century, discovery, biosynth ...

assembly protein and subsequent condensation with three molecules of malonyl-CoA. This

polyketide Polyketides are a class of natural products derived from a precursor molecule consisting of a chain of alternating ketone (or reduced forms of a ketone) and methylene groups: (-CO-CH2-). First studied in the early 20th century, discovery, biosynth ...

is cyclized to

olivetolic acid Olivetolic acid is an organic compound that is an intermediate in the biosynthetic pathway of the cannabinoids in ''Cannabis sativa ''Cannabis sativa'' is an annual herbaceous flowering plant indigenous to Eastern Asia, but now of cosmopoli ...

via olivetolic acid cyclase, and then prenylated with a ten carbon isoprenoid precursor,

geranyl pyrophosphate Geranyl pyrophosphate (GPP), also known as geranyl diphosphate (GDP), is the pyrophosphate ester of the terpenoid geraniol. Its salts are colorless. It is a precursor to many natural products. Occurrence GPP is an intermediate in the isopreno ...

, using an aromatic prenyltransferase enzyme, geranyl-pyrophosphate—olivetolic acid geranyltransferase, to biosynthesize

, which can then be decarboxylated to yield cannabigerol.

Research

, no

clinical research Clinical research is a branch of healthcare science that determines the safety and effectiveness ( efficacy) of medications, devices, diagnostic products and treatment regimens intended for human use. These may be used for prevention, treatm ...

has been conducted to test the specific effects of cannabigerol in humans. Cannabigerol is under laboratory research to determine its

pharmacological Pharmacology is a branch of medicine, biology and pharmaceutical sciences concerned with drug or medication action, where a drug may be defined as any artificial, natural, or endogenous (from within the body) molecule which exerts a biochemica ...

properties and potential effects in disease conditions, with no conclusions about therapeutic effects or safety, as of 2021. Cannabigerol has affinity and activity at CB1 and CB2 cannabinoid receptors in vitro. It appears to be unique among cannabinoid compounds by also having high affinity and activity at

alpha-2 adrenergic receptor The alpha-2 (α2) adrenergic receptor (or adrenoceptor) is a G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) associated with the Gi heterotrimeric G-protein. It consists of three highly homologous subtypes, including α2A-, α2B-, and α2C-adrenergic. Some ...

s and moderate activity at serotonin (5-HT) 1A receptors.

Safety concerns

Although general effects of its use as a dietary supplement remain undefined, the potent activity of cannabigerol at alpha-2 adrenergic receptors raises concerns about its safety for human consumption, possibly having unintended effects, such as bradycardia, arterial

hypotension Hypotension is low blood pressure. Blood pressure is the force of blood pushing against the walls of the arteries as the heart pumps out blood. Blood pressure is indicated by two numbers, the systolic blood pressure (the top number) and the dia ...

, and

xerostomia Xerostomia, also known as dry mouth, is dryness in the mouth, which may be associated with a change in the composition of saliva, or reduced salivary flow, or have no identifiable cause. This symptom is very common and is often seen as a side eff ...

FDA warning letters for dietary supplements

As of 2022, the US

Food and Drug Administration The United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA or US FDA) is a List of United States federal agencies, federal agency of the United States Department of Health and Human Services, Department of Health and Human Services. The FDA is respon ...

has issued numerous warning letters to American companies for illegally marketing cannabis supplement products, including one selling cannabigerol products with unproven illegal claims of efficacy against the

COVID-19 virus Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS‑CoV‑2) is a strain of coronavirus that causes COVID-19 (coronavirus disease 2019), the respiratory illness responsible for the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. The virus previously had a p ...

and

inflammation Inflammation (from la, inflammatio) is part of the complex biological response of body tissues to harmful stimuli, such as pathogens, damaged cells, or irritants, and is a protective response involving immune cells, blood vessels, and molec ...

Legal status

Cannabigerol is not scheduled by the UN Convention on Psychotropic Substances. In the United States, cannabigerol derived from cannabis is illegal under the Controlled Substances Act, while cannabigerol derived from hemp is legal, as long as the hemp THC content is less than 0.3% of dry weight. In Switzerland, it is legal to produce hemp rich in cannabigerol as a tobacco substitute, as long as its THC content remains below 1.0%.

References