High Cannabigerol Hemp Extract Moderates Colitis and Modulates the Microbiome in an Inflammatory Bowel Disease Model.

Area of Science:

• Gastroenterology
• Pharmacology
• Microbiology

Background:

• Cannabis sativa L. has a history of medicinal use for gastrointestinal diseases.
• Patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) use cannabis for symptom management, but clinical data is limited.
• The dextran sodium sulfate (DSS) model in mice is a well-established model for studying colitis.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the impact of a high cannabigerol (CBG) hemp extract on IBD activity in a DSS-induced colitis mouse model.
• To investigate the effects of high CBG hemp extract on the colonic microbiome and fecal metabolome.

Main Methods:

• Mice were induced with colitis using 2% DSS in drinking water.
• Daily treatment with high CBG hemp extract or vehicle control was administered over seven days.
• Disease severity was assessed using histological and organismal measurements.
• Fecal microbiota was analyzed using 16S rRNA gene sequencing.
• Fecal metabolomics was performed to analyze metabolic pathways.

Main Results:

• High CBG hemp extract treatment significantly reduced disease severity, indicated by decreased disease activity index, increased colon length, and reduced colon tissue damage.
• 16S rRNA gene sequencing revealed alterations in the fecal microbiota composition following high CBG hemp extract treatment.
• Metabolomic analysis showed normalization of several metabolic pathways, including those involved in inflammation, in mice treated with high CBG hemp extract.

Conclusions:

• High CBG hemp extract demonstrates significant therapeutic potential in reducing colitis severity.
• Treatment with high CBG hemp extract modulates the gut microbiome and metabolome in a manner that may be beneficial for colitis.
• These findings suggest that high CBG hemp extracts could represent a novel treatment option for patients with IBD.