Study: Nonpsychoactive Cannabinoid Mitigates Colitis

The administration of the nonpsychotropic cannabinoid cannabigerol (CBG) mitigates colitis (inflammation of the large intestine) in a preclinical model and ought to be assessed in clinical trials, according to data published online in the journal Biochemical Pharmacology.

Investigators at the University of Naples assessed the impact of CGB in a murine model of colitis. They reported that CBG attenuated colitis and “could be considered for clinical experimentation in IBD (inflammatory bowel disease) patients.”

Cannabigerol is an organic cannabinoid that possesses therapeutic potential as an antibacterial agent and as a bone stimulant, according to a limited number of preclinical trials.

Use of cannabis is relatively common among patients with IBD. In preclinical trials, cannabinoids have reduced inflammation and “enhanced epithelial wound closure” in human tissue. In 2011, an observational study reported subjects’ cannabis use was associated with a reduction in Crohn’s disease activity and disease-related surgeries.

For more information, please contact Paul Armentano, NORML Deputy Director, at: paul@norml.org. Full text of the study, “Beneficial effect of the non-psychotropic plant cannabinoid cannabigerol on experimental inflammatory bowel disease,” appears in Biochemical Pharmacology.

Article republished from NORML