What is CBG and how is it extracted from cannabis?

What is CBG?

Cannabigerol (CBG), like THC or CBD, is a naturally occurring chemical compound found in cannabis. This cannabinoid is often found in very low concentrations in hemp and cannabis biomass (usually less than 1%). Though CBG is considered a minor cannabinoid, recent research suggests that it may offer remarkable health benefits.

CBGA is the acidic form of CBG, and is considered the precursor to all other cannabinoid lines (which include THC and CBD after the decarboxylation process). As cannabis plants age or are exposed to heat, CBGA breaks down into tetrahydrocannabinolic acid (THCA), cannabidiolic acid (CBDA), cannabichromenic acid (CBCA), and very small concentrations of other cannabinoids like CBG.

CBGA breaks down into THCA, CBDA, CBCA and small concentrations of other cannabinoids like CBG. Image source.

What are the potential health benefits of CBG?

Recent research into CBG has hinted that this cannabinoid may provide remarkable health benefits. This has contributed to an increasing demand for CBG distillate products to treat a variety of ailments such as:

Note: research into CBG is fairly new, and these claims will need to be further validated by additional research. More information can be found here.

Glaucoma
Huntington’s disease
Cancer
Bladder dysfunction disorders
Bacterial infections

Depression and anxiety
Epilepsy seizures
Insomnia
Skin irritations

Did you Know?

A recent study indicates that CBG may have therapeutic potential in treating neurological, gastrointestinal, and metabolic disorders.

To read more, click here.

Note: research into CBG is fairly new, and these claims will need to be further validated by additional research. More information can be found here.

How to extract CBG from cannabis?

Since CBG naturally occurs in cannabis in such low concentrations, the journey towards isolating pure CBG extract starts at the breeding and cultivation stage. Interbreeding strains with high CBG concentrations increases your ability to extract the cannabinoid and harvesting plants at an earlier stage in the growth cycle increases your chances that the CBGA has not been converted into other cannabinoids.

CBG is extracted from cannabis biomass through an extraction process similar to the one used in extracting CBD or THC. extractX mobile labs use a closed-loop ethanol extraction process to create cannabis distillate and a further process that allows us to separate CBG from other cannabinoids.

CBG is extracted from cannabis distillate through a further separation process.

extractX Mobile Labs

If you’re a hemp or cannabis cultivator, processor, or product formulator hoping to expand into producing CBG extract, we walk to talk! Our turnkey mobile labs arrive at your facility within 4-6 months and require a $0 lab CapEx. Please contact us to learn about becoming an extractX partner.