05-17-2021, 07:06 AM
Cannabis flowers are loaded with the complexity of chemicals. CBD and THC only make up a small part of the picture. Here you will come to know about everything that you require to know about a lesser-known cannabinoid that is CBG.
You can discover how cannabis does the creation of this molecule, why CBD and THC would not exist without it. You will also know about the benefits and unique effects that are offered by cannabinoids.
Have you ever taken a closer glance at a cannabis flower? If yes, then you might probably have noticed a bunch of shiny crystals. These minute structures are known by the name trichomes. And these also hold much of the chemical complexity of the cannabis plant.
We all are aware of CBD and THC at this point. But, trichomes do the production of more than 100 different chemicals that are belonging to the cannabinoid family. Presently cannabis scientists are unveiling the properties of these constituents. And some of them come out as particularly extremely impressive.
There is a molecule among them which is known as cannabigerol or CBG. CBG is known for playing a crucial role in the formation of CBD, THC, and another key player within the cannabis plant. It is apart from potentially benefitting humans.
You must continue to read for finding out everything that you are required to know about his fascinating chemical. You must discover how to do the creation of it in cannabis. What effects are offered by it, and how it usually compare to the better known cannabinoid CBD.
What is meant by CBG or Cannabigerol?
CBG is known for belonging to the family of cannabinoids. It plays a very interesting role both inside and outside of the cannabis plant.
Pioneering cannabis scientist Dr. Raphael Mechoulam has done the isolation of CBG from cannabis in 1964. In the same year, he also has isolated THC. However, unlike THC, CBG does production of no psychotropic effects in humans.
THC does the production of a high. The reason is the way of it in which it interacts with a body-wide network of receptors, the endocannabinoid system that internally does the production of cannabinoids that are bind to it. Given the molecular similarity of it to internal cannabinoids, THC is known for latching on to CB1 receptors in the brain. It gives away to a "high".
On the other hand, CBG is thought for finding to the traditional cannabinoid receptors CB1 and CB2 with low affinity. However, it does the binding of receptors of the "expanded endocannabinoid system" with much higher efficacy. It is inclusive of vanilloid receptors that are involved in nervous system signaling.
CBG is known for serving the chemical precursor to another cannabinoid within the herb, of which we are aware and what we love. More particularly, it is the acidic form of CBG that is CBGA. It is responsible for the existence of cannabinoids like CBD and THC. As such, CBGA and CBG itself have got the title of the "mother cannabinoid".
Biosynthesis of CBG
For having a better understanding of how CBG is created in cannabis, we are required to have a better understanding of the basics of biosynthesis. Cannabinoid biosynthesis is occured within the trichome glands. Bio is meant by life, and synthesis refers to the hint at the creation of something. This complex-sounding word is known for simply boiling down to how something in the case of a cannabinoid comes to be.
There are numerous biosynthetic pathways that are utilized in the cannabis plant for the production of different cannabinoids. One of these gets started with our mother cannabinoid, which is cannabigerol acid or CBGA.
Following the creation of CBGA, plant enzymes are known for acting on the molecule. These proteins used to work to catalyze a reaction that does the transformation of the chemical into another cannabinoid acid which is inclusive of CBDA and THCA.
It takes a particular enzyme for the conversion of CBG into a corresponding molecule. When it is acted upon by the enzyme THCA synthase, CBGA gets converted to THCA. When CBDA synthase used to drive the reaction, the mother cannabinoid gets turned into CBDA.
It is the only CBDA and THCA that is exposed to sufficient heat that is lost by the "A" in their title. And it gets turned into their decarboxylated or activated versions which are CBD and THC. The same used to go for CBGA conversion into CBG.
Presently, CBG only gets occured in very small quantities within most of the varieties of cannabis. However, researchers have done the developed chemovars or chemical varieties that used to express 100% of their cannabinoid profile as CBG. The results of these breeding programs usually prove that high strains of CBG will become a popular feature very soon on the cannabis market.
Why Make Use Of CBG?
Why should we get cared about CBG? We are already having THC for taking care of the psychotropic side of things, and CBD used to do a good job of facilitating the benefits of cannabis without getting us high.
These are great points. But, we are required to remember that almost every cannabinoid used to bring something that is unique to the table. CBG does the production of effects that are exclusive to the way it usually works on the body. It used to interact with the receptor inside and outside of the endocannabinoid system for the creation of the effects that CBD and THC are not capable of.
Research into CBG has remained quite preliminary. Definitely, we are not able in taking the current evidence as proof that the particular outcomes are produced by the molecules. We are required to wait for the controlled human trials before we can do the production of a true assessment of what CBG can do.