28 years, 21 studies.
The oldest entry in our registry is a 1996 paper that purifies an enzyme from the plant. The first controlled trial in our registry of what CBG does in people is dated 2024. Between the two lies almost everything we know, and most of it was learned in a dish or a mouse: of 21 studies, 1 is in humans. That is the shape of a field that is still young, and the timeline shows it without adornment.
Every registry study, oldest first.
One line per study: the year, who ran it, where it was published, what design it used and what it found. Filter by design to see how thin each layer is. Papers we know about but have not yet graded are not here; they wait under literature under review.
1990s1 study
- 1996study type: BiochemistryCBGCBGa
Purification and characterization of cannabidiolic-acid synthase from Cannabis sativa L.
CBDA synthase catalyzes the oxidocyclization of CBGA into CBDA.
2000s4 studies
- 2004study type: BiochemistryCBGCBGa
The gene controlling marijuana psychoactivity: molecular cloning and heterologous expression of Delta1-tetrahydrocannabinolic acid synthase from Cannabis sativa L.
THCA synthase catalyzes the FAD-dependent oxidative cyclization of CBGA into THCA.
- 2005study type: In vitroCBG
Agonistic properties of cannabidiol at 5-HT1a receptors
CBD is a modest-affinity 5-HT1A agonist; THC inactive at the same micromolar range. By contrast CBG is a 5-HT1A antagonist (opposite direction at the same receptor).
- 2008study type: In vitroCBG
Antibacterial cannabinoids from Cannabis sativa: a structure-activity study
All five major cannabinoids, including CBG, showed potent in-vitro activity against MRSA strains. In vitro only.
- 2008study type: ReviewCBGTHCV
The diverse CB1 and CB2 receptor pharmacology of three plant cannabinoids: delta9-tetrahydrocannabinol, cannabidiol and delta9-tetrahydrocannabivarin
THC is a CB1/CB2 partial agonist (basis of intoxication); CBD is a high-potency antagonist of CB1/CB2 agonists.
2010s10 studies
- 2010study type: In vitroCBG
Evidence that the plant cannabinoid cannabigerol is a highly potent alpha2-adrenoceptor agonist and moderately potent 5HT1A receptor antagonist
CBG is a highly potent alpha2-adrenoceptor agonist and a 5-HT1A antagonist; CB1 antagonist.
- 2011study type: In vitroCBG
Effects of cannabinoids and cannabinoid-enriched Cannabis extracts on TRP channels and endocannabinoid metabolic enzymes
CBG is a TRPV1/TRPV2 agonist-desensitizer and a TRPM8 antagonist.
- 2013study type: Animal · preclinicalCBG
Beneficial effect of the non-psychotropic plant cannabinoid cannabigerol on experimental inflammatory bowel disease
CBG attenuated DNBS-induced murine colitis; reduced iNOS/MPO and normalized cytokines. Preclinical only.
- 2014study type: Animal · preclinicalCBG
Colon carcinogenesis is inhibited by the TRPM8 antagonist cannabigerol, a Cannabis-derived non-psychotropic cannabinoid
CBG inhibited colorectal-cancer cell growth and chemically-induced colon carcinogenesis in mice, an effect linked to TRPM8 blockade. Independently corroborates CBG TRPM8-antagonist and 5-HT1A-blocker profile. Preclinical only.
- 2015study type: In vitroCBG
Cannabidiol is a negative allosteric modulator of the cannabinoid CB1 receptor
CBD is a non-competitive negative allosteric modulator of CB1.
- 2015study type: Animal · preclinicalCBG
Neuroprotective properties of cannabigerol in Huntington's disease: studies in R6/2 mice and 3-nitropropionate-lesioned mice
CBG was neuroprotective in two mouse models of Huntington's disease; reduced neuroinflammation and improved antioxidant defenses. Preclinical only.
- 2016study type: Animal · preclinicalCBG
Cannabigerol is a novel, well-tolerated appetite stimulant in pre-satiated rats
CBG more than doubled food intake and increased meal frequency in pre-satiated rats, without neuromotor side effects. Preclinical only.
- 2016study type: BiochemistryCBGCBGa
Decarboxylation study of acidic cannabinoids: a novel approach using ultra-high-performance supercritical fluid chromatography/photodiode array-mass spectrometry
Decarboxylation of acidic cannabinoids is ~first-order over 80-145 C; THCA-A rate ~2x CBDA/CBGA.
- 2018study type: In vitroCBG
In Vitro Model of Neuroinflammation: Efficacy of Cannabigerol, a Non-Psychoactive Cannabinoid
Preclinical (in vitro): in a cell model of neuroinflammation, cannabigerol (CBG) pre-treatment reduced motor-neuron cell death, apoptosis markers, inflammatory cytokines, and oxidative-stress markers. No animal or human efficacy data.
- 2018study type: BiochemistryCBGCBGa
Elucidation of structure-function relationship of THCA and CBDA synthase from Cannabis sativa L.
Recombinant THCA and CBDA synthases both also yield some CBCA from CBGA; synthases are not perfectly specific.
2020s6 studies
- 2020study type: Animal · preclinicalCBG
Uncovering the Hidden Antibiotic Potential of Cannabis
Preclinical: cannabigerol (CBG) showed antibacterial activity against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) in vitro and in a mouse model, acting on the Gram-positive cytoplasmic membrane and clearing biofilms. No human efficacy data.
- 2021study type: ReviewCBG
The Pharmacological Case for Cannabigerol
Authoritative review of CBG: its activity at cannabinoid receptors sits between THC and CBD, but it is distinctive at α2-adrenoceptors and 5-HT. Surveys possible areas of investigation (neurologic, inflammatory bowel, antibacterial) and toxicological gaps, while stressing that research is limited and marketing claims outpace the evidence.
- 2022study type: Animal · preclinicalCBG
The cannabis constituent cannabigerol does not disrupt fear memory processes or stress-induced anxiety in mice
CBG did NOT disrupt fear memory or stress-induced anxiety in mice (null). Balances the human acute anxiolytic signal.
- 2023study type: Animal · preclinicalCBG
Cannabigerol modulates α-adrenoceptor and 5-HT1A receptor-mediated electrophysiological effects on dorsal raphe nucleus and locus coeruleus neurons and anxiety behavior in rat
Preclinical (rat): CBG produced anxiolytic-like effects that were prevented by the 5-HT1A antagonist WAY100635, and it modulated α2-adrenoceptor and 5-HT1A signalling in raphe/locus-coeruleus neurons. Mechanistic support for the 5-HT1A/α2 pathway; not human evidence and not a promoter of the human anxiety grade.
- 2024study type: Human RCTCBG
Acute effects of cannabigerol on anxiety, stress, and mood: a double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover, field trial
Single 20 mg oral CBG dose reduced self-reported anxiety and stress with no intoxication or impairment (n=34, acute). First human CBG trial; Low confidence.
- 2026study type: Animal · preclinicalCBG
Pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic properties of cannabigerol in male mice
Preclinical (mouse): at its peak brain concentration, CBG produced anxiogenic-like (anxiety-increasing) effects on the elevated plus maze, independent of CB1. Contrasts with the human acute anxiolytic signal.
A registry, not a history of the field.
The timeline is our registry laid out by date. It is not a census of the literature, and a year with no entry means our catalogue has nothing graded from it, not that nothing was published. The registry is CBG-centred; the CBD and THC papers in it are there because a CBG question needed them.
21 verified studies · fingerprint 154671f50c4a… · generated 9 August 2026. The same snapshot the Research Library serves and the ladder grades from.
A study’s place on this timeline says when it was published and how it was designed, not that CBG works for anything. Nothing here diagnoses, cures or prevents any condition. Report a safety event. Peregrine Biopharma funds the platform and holds no editorial authority.