CBGa

CBGA stands for cannabigerolic acid, a cannabinoid found in Cannabis sativa and related species. It is the acidic precursor to the neutral cannabinoids tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), cannabidiol (CBD), and cannabichromene (CBC), formed from CBGA by specific synthase enzymes in the plant’s glandular trichomes. In the plant, CBGA is produced when olivetolic acid and geranyl pyrophosphate condense, a reaction typically catalyzed by a geranyltransferase. THCA synthase, CBDA synthase, and CBCA synthase act on CBGA to produce THCA, CBDA, and CBCA, respectively. Decarboxylation—loss of CO2 from the carboxyl group—upon heating or aging converts these acids to their neutral forms: THCA to THC, CBDA to CBD, and CBCA to CBC. The result is that CBGA is often described as the parent cannabinoid in many cannabis chemotypes.

CBGA occurs in the trichomes of developing cannabis flowers and is typically present at higher levels in young tissues before other cannabinoids accumulate. Its relative abundance varies with cultivar, genetics, and environmental conditions, influencing the plant’s eventual cannabinoid profile.

Analytically, CBGA is quantified by chromatographic methods such as high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) or gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Because CBGA is prone to decarboxylation and degradation, samples are handled with care to preserve the acidic form for accurate measurement.

In research and industry, CBGA is of interest for breeding programs aiming to optimize the production of downstream cannabinoids and for studies of its own pharmacology, where early investigations report anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and neuroprotective activities, though robust clinical evidence remains limited.