Cannabidiol vs Cannabigerol: what is the difference?
Cannabigerol is the precursor the cannabis plant builds cannabidiol from, and CBG keeps an open chain where CBD has closed a ring.
Sources and notes
- The sentence under the titlefrom sourceMoleculeFinder comparison notesThe pair's answer line.
- The two drawingscomputedMoleculeFinder rule (RDKit MCS)Drawn the same way round on the skeleton they share. Aligned; 20 atoms differ, too many to mark as one group.
Side by side
| Cannabidiol | Cannabigerol | |
|---|---|---|
| Molecular weightCalculated PubChem | 314.5 g/molC21H30O2 | 316.5 g/molC21H32O2 |
| Hydrogen-bond donorsCalculated PubChem | 2 | 2 |
| FamilyEditorial MoleculeFinder curated | Terpenoids | Terpenoids |
| Everyday groupEditorial MoleculeFinder curated | Plant | Plant |
| Chemical groupsCalculated Found by rule (RDKit) | Aromatics, Phenols | Aromatics, Phenols |
| Hazard labelReported ECHA via PubChem | Warning | Warning |
| The supplier-filed hazard label's signal word, not a statement about ordinary use. | ||
Sources and notes
- Molecular weightcomputedPubChemComputed from the structure; the formula is under each weight.
- Hydrogen-bond donorscomputedPubChemThe hydrogens on nitrogen or oxygen that each molecule can lend to a hydrogen bond, counted from its structure.
- Familyfrom sourceMoleculeFinder curated
- Everyday groupfrom sourceMoleculeFinder curated
- Chemical groupscomputedFound by rule (RDKit)Each group is found in the structure by a chemical pattern.
- Hazard labelfrom sourceECHA via PubChem
- ECHAfrom sourceAttributionSource: European Chemicals Agency, echa.europa.eu.
- Identifiersfrom sourcePubChemPubChem CID 644019 (Cannabidiol) and 5315659 (Cannabigerol).
In more detail
The plant uses up most of its cannabigerol that way, which is why mature plants contain very little of it. Both are non-intoxicating and neither activates the CB1 receptor the way THC does. Their structures are close: CBG keeps a straight, open chain where CBD has closed a ring, and CBG carries two more hydrogens, 316.5 against 314.5. Because CBG is consumed by the plant's own synthesis, extracting it commercially means harvesting early or using selectively bred low-conversion strains, which is why CBG products cost more. The research base behind CBG is far thinner than CBD's.
Sources and notes
- The paragraphfrom sourceMoleculeFinder comparison notes
Questions
- What is the difference between Cannabidiol and Cannabigerol?
- Cannabigerol is the precursor the cannabis plant builds cannabidiol from, and CBG keeps an open chain where CBD has closed a ring.
- Is Cannabidiol bigger than Cannabigerol?
- Cannabigerol is the heavier molecule, 316.5 g/mol against 314.5 g/mol for Cannabidiol. Cannabidiol is C21H30O2 and Cannabigerol is C21H32O2.
Sources and notes
- The answersfrom sourceMoleculeFinderThe first is the pair's answer line; the others are read off the table above.