# The Origin and Biomedical Relevance of Cannabigerol
## 2 _Cannabis sativa_ L. as a Source of Cannabigerol  
A characteristic feature of cannabis is the large number of trichomes, which take the form of protuberances and cover the plant's leaves and stems. The trichomes found in _Cannabis sativa_ L. can be divided into two types: glandular (secretory) and non-glandular. Within the secretory trichomes, numerous biologically active compounds are biosynthesized and/or secreted, such as terpenoids (responsible for the fragrance of hemp) and phytocannabinoids, whose role is to protect the plant from pests and herbivores. In addition, over 750 compounds with diverse biological activities have been identified in hemp, including flavonoids (23 chemical individuals identified), terpenoids (140 com-pounds), and cannabinoids (86 compounds) [7; 8], with the content of the particular chemical individuals closely related to hemp variety. This variation is particularly evident in the content of \(\Delta^{9}\)-THC, which depends on the intended use of the cultivated plants. Cultivars of _Cannabis sativa_ L. used for typically industrial purposes (e.g., connected with the textile industry or obtaining construction biomaterials) contain insignificant amounts of the psychoactive cannabinoid, whose high concentrations can be found in the so-called'medical varieties'. Connected with this is the fact that cultivation of varieties with significant concentrations of \(\Delta^{9}\)-THC is illegal in many countries--only cultivation for medical and scientific purposes is allowed [14]. Variations in phytocannabinoid contents resulting from the different intended uses of cannabis cultivars also manifest in variable contents of those cannabinoids that do not exhibit psychoactive effects, including cannabidiol and cannabigerol [15]. It is worth noting that the highest contents of CBG within a single plant can be found in those flowers and leaves of infloresences that are collected from the highest parts of the plant--the contents are approx. 10 times higher than in the case of fan leaves [14]. Apart from the significant terpenoid and cannabioid contents, hemp is also a source of such compounds as carbohydrates (mono-, di- and polysaccharides, and amino sugars), flavonoids (e.g., terpinolene, quercetin, kaempfer), fatty acids (e.g., \(\alpha\)-linolenic acid, oleic acid, and linoleic acid), phytosterols, vitamins, and simple alcohols, esters, and organic acids (Figure 1). It is noteworthy that in the case of fatty acids, a total of 33 acids have been identified in hemp seed oil, with unsaturated acids as the clearly dominant group. The oil is a valued source of linoleic (LA), \(\alpha\)-linolenic (ALA), oleic (OA), \(\gamma\)-linolenic (GLA), stearidonic (SDA), and cis-vaccenic acids [16]. Phytocannabinoids are a group of 21-carbon terpenophenic compounds [19]. To date, more than 120 phytocannabinoidss have been isolated from cannabis, including two compounds, (\(-\))-trans-\(\Lambda^{9}\)-tetrahydrocannabinol (\(\Delta^{9}\)-THC) and (\(-\))-trans-\(\Delta^{8}\)-tetrahydrocannabinol (\(\Delta^{8}\)-THC), which produce the characteristic psychotropic effect by binding to cannabinoid receptors [20]. Another group, containing 16 of the phytocannabinoids, are cannabinoid and its derivatives [21]. Apart from the above phytocannabinoids, hemp contains cannabinoid (CBN), cannabinoid (CBD), cannabinoidorene (CBC), \(\Delta^{9}\)-tetrahydrocannabivarin (THCV), cannabinoid (CBV), and cannabinoid (CBDV) [22]. Other phytocannabinoids, such as cannabinoidoid (CBND), cannabision (CBE), cannabinoid (CBL), and cannabinoid (CBT), have also been the subject of research in recent decades despite their lower contents in _Cannabis sativa_ L. [23]. It is believed that, similarly to endocannabinoids, phytocannabinoidss also affect the human body through their interaction with G-protein-coupled membrane receptors, including cannabinoid receptors (CB1 and CB2), to which individual members of the group show very different affinities [22].