A key part of the pathophysiology of glaucoma involves mitochondrial dysfunction. Oxidative stress is also involved.
In this 2021 in vitro study, both CBD and CBG were able to protect against neuronal cell death caused by oxidative stress. Furthermore, they were both able to protect against neuronal cell death caused by rotenone. CBG was safe and effective over a wider dose range.
(Furthermore, from other research, summarized in the first section here, we know that CBG can lower IOP, while CBD can potentially raise IOP.)
Rotenone is the most potent member of the rotenoid family of neurotoxins found naturally in tropical plants. Exposure to rotenone results in the inhibition of the mitochondrial electron transport chain and it is used as a laboratory model of neurodegeneration caused by mitochondrial dysfunction (which glaucoma is).
Quercetin is a well-known dietary flavonoid widely recognized as a strong antioxidant neuroprotective agent. Cannabinoids are thought to have antioxidant activity similar to quercetin.
However, quercetin is not able to protect against rotenone-induced neurotoxicity, but CBD and CBG were able to do so in this study.
Our results demonstrated that CBD and CBG ... have potential as neuroprotective agents against two neurotoxic insults involving different biochemical processes. Echeverry et al., 2021
Overall, this study further supports the idea that CBG has a potential important role in the management of glaucoma.
PMID: 32886342
- DOI: 10.1007/s12640-020-00277-y
- 2021 Apr;39(2):335-348.
- Epub 2020 Sep 4.