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Introducing Cosmetics’ Newest Breakthrough Anti-Inflammatory: Cannabigerol (CBG)

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By: TOM BRANNA

Editor

In the past decade, the cannabidiol (CBD) industry and its impact on global markets have grown from a low buzz to a monstrous roar. Initially, as expansion increased, many of the product claims surrounding CBD were pure folly, with a serious lack of in-depth research.1,2 But as the industry matured and CBD broke into pharmaceutical and personal care markets, rigorous scientific studies followed, with claims backed up by peer-reviewed literature and in-depth review by regulatory agencies, including the FDA.3
 
CBD and its many (justified and unjustified) applications are just beginning to scratch the surface of the many bioactive ingredients that can be harnessed from theCannabis sativa plant. Hundreds of cannabinoids have been identified and extracted from C. sativa and scientists are just starting to sift through the vast molecular diversity and potential pharmacological activity that may be present.4
 
Many of these cannabinoids are considered “rare,” making up only a minute percentage of the total extractable material from the plant. Low concentrations present several problems, not only for in-depth scientific studies, but also for scaling up manufacturing, commercialization efforts, and managing the environmental impact of indoor or outdoor farming operations.

Rare Cannabinoids as Bioactive Ingredients

Cannabigerol (CBG) has emerged as a promising rare cannabinoid and several well-conducted studies have uncovered a variety of potentially valuable bioactivities.4-6 To gain a better grasp on which reported bioactivities – some of which may be attractive for cosmetics and personal care formulations – are repeatable (a hallmark of whether these findings are “real”), our team at Demetrix has been designing experiments and conducting studies to precisely evaluate the anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory activities that have been reported for CBG.
 
We’ve recently collected promising data confirming CBG’s robust, anti-inflammatory activity (Figure 1; Table 1). Using a common experimental model for inflammation that involves cultured human keratinocytes, we showed that CBG reduced the release of two biomarkers of inflammation, IL-8 and PGE2. Both of these markers play a normal role in facilitating the cellular immune response and controlling damage during acute and chronic inflammatory responses.7,8


Skin inflammation, marked by itchy, red, dry, and painful skin, is challenging for many people to manage, making it an important health condition for which, new solutions must be developed. The causes can be from acute infectious diseases (i.e., microbes such as bacteria, viruses, or fungus) to chronic skin conditions that include rosacea and/or eczema. Given the results above, we are confident that new bioactive ingredients, such as CBG, can help address these underlying conditions.
 
As we continue our investigation of CBG, other cannabinoids, and associated bioactivities, Demetrix remains dedicated to advancing research on rare cannabinoids and applying them to markets where there is a significant unmet need. Our new biomanufacturing process doesn’t rely on plant-based extraction, enabling access to a clean, scalable, and more sustainable source of CBG.
 
To learn more about CBG and our ongoing scientific studies, check out the Demetix website.

References:

  1. FTC Announces Crackdown on Deceptively Marketed CBD Products. FTC website: https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/press-releases/2020/12/ftc-announces-crackdown-deceptively-marketed-cbd-products. Published December 17, 2020. Accessed February 23, 2022.
  2. Warning Letters and Test Results for Cannabidiol-Related Products. FDA website: https://www.fda.gov/news-events/public-health-focus/warning-letters-and-test-results-cannabidiol-related-products. Published August 5, 2021. Accessed February 23, 2022.
  3. Hussain SA, Zhou R, Jacobson C, et al. Perceived efficacy of cannabidiol-enriched cannabis extracts for treatment of pediatric epilepsy: A potential role for infantile spasms and Lennox-Gastaut syndrome. Epilepsy Behav. 2015;47:138-141. doi:10.1016/j.yebeh.2015.04.009
  4. Sampson PB. Phytocannabinoid Pharmacology: Medicinal Properties of Cannabis sativa Constituents Aside from the “Big Two”. J Nat Prod. 2021;84(1):142-160. doi:10.1021/acs.jnatprod.0c00965
  5. Nachnani R, Raup-Konsavage WM, Vrana KE. The Pharmacological Case for Cannabigerol. J Pharmacol Exp Ther. 2021;376(2):204-212. doi:10.1124/jpet.120.000340
  6. Gugliandolo A, Pollastro F, Grassi G, Bramanti P, Mazzon E. In Vitro Model of Neuroinflammation: Efficacy of Cannabigerol, a Non-Psychoactive Cannabinoid. Int J Mol Sci. 2018;19(7):1992. doi:10.3390/ijms19071992
  7. Chabot-Fletcher M, Breton J, Lee J, Young P, Griswold DE. Interleukin-8 production is regulated by protein kinase C in human keratinocytes. J Invest Dermatol. 1994;103(4):509-515. doi:10.1111/1523-1747.ep12395658
  8. Fuller B. Role of PGE-2 and Other Inflammatory Mediators in Skin Aging and Their Inhibition by Topical Natural Anti-Inflammatories. Cosmetics. 2019;6(1):6. https://doi.org/10.3390/cosmetics6010006

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