Cannabigerol

Biosynthesis of Cannabigerol

• Cannabigerol biosynthesis involves loading hexanoyl-CoA onto a polyketide synthase assembly protein.
• Condensation with three molecules of malonyl-CoA follows.
• The polyketide is cyclized to olivetolic acid via olivetolic acid cyclase.
• Prenylation with geranyl pyrophosphate biosynthesizes cannabigerolic acid.
• Cannabigerolic acid can be decarboxylated to yield cannabigerol.

Research on Cannabigerol

• No clinical research has tested the specific effects of cannabigerol in humans as of 2021.
• Cannabigerol is under laboratory research to determine its pharmacological properties.
• Cannabigerol has affinity and activity at cannabinoid receptors, α-adrenergic receptors, and serotonin 5-HT receptors.
• No conclusions have been made about therapeutic effects or safety of cannabigerol as of 2021.
• Its effects and safety for human consumption remain undefined.

Safety Concerns Related to Cannabigerol

• The activity of cannabigerol at α-adrenergic receptors raises safety concerns.
• Potential unintended effects may include bradycardia, arterial hypotension, and dry mouth.
• The safety of cannabigerol for human consumption is uncertain.
• The general effects of using cannabigerol as a dietary supplement are undefined.
• Safety concerns arise from its in vitro activity at α-adrenergic receptors.

FDA Regulations and Warning Letters for Dietary Supplements

• The US FDA has issued warning letters to companies illegally marketing cannabis supplement products.
• One company was found selling cannabigerol products with unproven claims of efficacy against COVID-19 and inflammation.
• The FDA regulates the marketing of dietary supplements containing cannabigerol.
• Companies have been warned against making unproven claims about the health benefits of cannabigerol.
• Compliance with FDA regulations is necessary for marketing dietary supplements.

Legal Status of Cannabigerol

• Cannabigerol is not scheduled by the UN Convention on Psychotropic Substances.
• In the US, cannabigerol derived from marijuana is illegal, while that from hemp is legal if THC content is below 0.3%.
• Switzerland allows production of hemp rich in cannabigerol as a tobacco substitute with THC content below 1.0%.
• The legal status of cannabigerol varies between countries.
• Understanding the legal regulations around cannabigerol is essential for its production and distribution.

Cannabigerol Data Sources