CANNABIS ALERT: CBG and CBGA-rich hemp extract in fed and fasted dogs (Journal of Veterinary Pharmacology and Therapeutics)

Editor's Note

Cannabigerolic acid (CBGA) and its decarboxylated form cannabigerol (CBG) are precursors to CBD and THC in the biosynthetic pathway of the cannabis plant. Regarded as minor cannabinoids present in some hemp extracts, increasing interest in CBG and CBGA been prompted by studies indicating a potential anti-inflammatory benefit. Nonetheless, the pharmacokinetic and safety profile of CBG or CBGA are not well understood. Researchers supplemented fed or fasted dogs with a veterinary hemp extract containing equal parts CBG and CBGA at a dose of 2 mg/kg. No differences between fed and fasted serum concentrations of CBG or CBGA were found after twice daily consumption for two weeks. Interestingly, however, CBGA was absorbed approximately 40-times better than CBG into the blood stream. No adverse events or toxicological considerations were found following supplementation with the CBG/CBGA-rich hemp extract in dogs.

Single dose and chronic oral administration of cannabigerol and cannabigerolic acid-rich hemp extract in fed and fasted dogs: Physiological effect and pharmacokinetic evaluation

March 2022

Journal of Veterinary Pharmacology and Therapeutics

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/jvp.13048

Abstract

The use of cannabinoids in veterinary medicine has been increasing exponentially recently and there is little information regarding the pharmacokinetics of cannabinoids except for cannabidiol (CBD) and tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), with even more sparse information related to their native acid forms found in cannabis. Cannabigerol (CBG) is the precursor molecule to cannabinoid formation in the cannabis plant which may have medicinal properties as well, yet there are no publications related to CBG or the native cannabigerolic acid (CBGA) in companion animal species. The aim of this study was to investigate similar dosing of CBG and CBGA from hemp plants that have been used for cannabidiol pharmacokinetic studies. Administration in the fed and fasted state was performed to better understand absorption and retention of these unique hemp-derived cannabinoids in dogs. Results suggest that when providing a hemp-derived CBG/CBGA formulation in equal quantities, CBGA is absorbed approximately 40-fold better than CBG regardless of being given to fed or fasted dogs. After twice daily dosing for two weeks at 2 mg/kg in the fasted and then fed state, no differences in the mean serum CBG (5 ng/ml) or CBGA (250 ng/ml) serum concentrations were observed between states. Importantly, physical examination, complete blood counts, and serum chemistry evaluations over the two weeks suggest no adverse events during this short-term dosing trial.