A newly published study in the journal Cannabis and Cannabinoid Research has found that cannabigerol (CBG), one of the lesser-known cannabinoids gaining popularity in consumer markets, does not exhibit acute or long-term toxicity in preclinical models.
In fact, researchers observed evidence that CBG may increase thermotolerance, preserve late-life mobility, and extend mean lifespan in a well-established invertebrate model.
The research involved two separate investigations. The first examined the effects of CBG on aging and survival in Caenorhabditis elegans, a nematode frequently used for toxicology screening. The second was a 14-day oral toxicity study in rats.
In C. elegans, CBG treatment at a wide range of concentrations showed no evidence of acute toxicity. Animals exposed to the cannabinoid demonstrated increased resistance to heat-induced stress, with the strongest effect seen at 75 μM, where survival improved by nearly 128%. Lifelong CBG administration did not extend maximum lifespan, which remained about 23 to 24 days, but it did increase mean lifespan by 14% to 19% depending on the dose. Treated worms also maintained significantly higher levels of motility in older age, suggesting potential benefits for neuromuscular health.
The second phase of the research focused on Sprague Dawley rats given daily oral doses of up to 140 mg/kg for two weeks. No treatment-related deaths or overt signs of toxicity were reported. Body weight and food consumption generally remained stable, though some dose-related variations were observed. At the highest dose, minor increases in alkaline phosphatase and chloride levels were detected, but researchers deemed them not toxicologically relevant. Female rats in the high-dose group also had statistically heavier livers, though these values remained within normal historical ranges. Importantly, no test-related microscopic changes were found in the liver, kidney, or adrenal tissues.
Taken together, the findings represent the first published exploration of lifelong CBG administration in any species, as well as the first guideline-aligned oral toxicity study in rats. While the results indicate that CBG is well tolerated at the tested doses and may even confer benefits related to health span, the authors caution that additional studies are needed.
The full study can be found here.
Sponsored
