What is CBG, and How is it Manufactured?

A cannabinoid called cannabigerol (CBG) is found in trace amounts in the hemp plant. Since CBGA (an acidic and inactive form) is the precursor molecule for other cannabinoids, when heated, it disintegrates into substances like CBD, CBG, CBC, and THC.

Since CBG only makes up around 1% of the hemp plant, it is challenging to collect enough of it for thorough research. However, CBG capsules are highly popular. Even though scientists think CBG may be thousands of years old, we still know relatively little about its makeup and its medical applications.

However, in-vitro research using rats, for instance, has shown that CBG may lessen the symptoms of diseases including colitis, glaucoma, and neurodegeneration.

The Challenges and Process of CBG Discovery

Chromatography is used to separate CBG from hemp plant material. There are three crucial steps in this process:

1. To extract the plant's cannabinoids, hemp is dissolved in a superfluid liquid solvent (such as CO2 or ethanol).

2. To remove all gases, this solution is subsequently evaporated under a vacuum, yielding a highly pure CBG concentrate.

3. To maintain their potency, the concentrate and finished CBG capsules and other products are kept at room temperature and out of direct sunlight.

Why hasn't CBG become as well-known as CBD, given the apparent simplicity of this extraction method and the fact that it has a wide range of potential therapeutic applications and no intoxication properties?

There are several solutions to this topic, but the expense of its extraction is certainly the biggest one.

CBG is a costly cannabinoid to isolate. Why? Since hemp only contains trace amounts of CBG, a relatively tiny amount of CBG can be produced from thousands of pounds of biomass.

Additionally, CBG extraction makes use of specialized manufacturing tools. The high-performance chromatography apparatus used to separate and purify the cannabis extract must be exceedingly exact due to the relatively low extraction levels to make the best use of the scarce raw plant material.

CBG not only costs money, but it also causes problems for growers. This is because there is a higher likelihood of CBGA and CBG degrading into CBD and other cannabinoids the longer a hemp plant takes to grow. Therefore, growers have two options: either they let the crop fully develop and sell it for other uses with a lesser CBG content, or they grow cannabis specifically for the manufacture of CBG.

Despite the scarcity of this cannabinoid, customers can find credible brands selling CBG capsules. Users can enjoy the benefits of CBG in their daily lives.