Cannabigerol study: Doctors view research with caution; flag addiction problems

Hyderabad: Preclinical research studies have identified anxiolytic and antidepressant effects in Cannabigerol (CBG), derived from cannabis plants, thus reducing anxiety, stress, and mood in healthy individuals. Though the acute effects of CBG were examined, there are no clinical trials to establish the benefits.

The development has been viewed with caution, given the danger of individuals getting addicted to the use of the drug, despite its medicinal benefits. Since the study was conducted on just 34 healthy adults, the outcomes cannot be accepted as final.

Further, the drug has yet to go through any phase of clinical trials, while the use of cannabis plants is banned by most countries across the world, except the ones with high incomes including the US and Canada.

Effect on hypertension and inflammation

The study has revealed that the CBG possesses anti-hypertensive effects, reducing intraocular pressure, and keratinocytes in a psoriasis model, and is efficient in containing inflammatory bowel disease.

Cannabigerol, referred to as the "mother of all cannabinoids," serves as the foundational compound for numerous other phytocannabinoids. This crucial molecule is the starting point from which well-known substances like delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), cannabidiol (CBD), and cannabichromene (CBC) are derived.

Dr Venkat Nani, general physician at Apollo Hospitals, Jubilee Hills said, “CBG is a compound derived from young cannabis plants. The studies are purely experimental now and clinical trials have been conducted so far”.

Outcomes of the study

The mental health status of the 34 adults was collected ahead of the tests and they were provided with 20mg of CBG, while another set of people were provided with placebo material, which is claimed to have therapeutic value but doesn't possess any such characteristics.

Social stress tests and verbal memory tests were conducted for the participants and their ratings were recorded for the study purpose. The researchers claim to have found reduced anxiety levels and improved verbal memory besides no negative impact of CBG on motor or cognitive functioning.

“The studies also point to the ability of the CBG in controlling cholesterol levels as well. But, controlling the use of the plant in our country would be a huge task, since people may fall into addictions. Further, it is tough to implement the usage of the cannabis plant with restrictions is impractical”, Dr Venkat Nani added.

In the global market, THG products are dominating, while demands for non-intoxicating medications are on the increase. Among the available non-intoxicating cannabinoids, cannabidiol has a wide acceptance with CBG slowly gaining prominence.