Recent research has revealed that the cannabis plant contains two compounds, CBD (cannabidiol) and CBG (cannabigerol), which might reverse fatty liver disease in mice without inducing intoxication.
Conducted by scientists at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, the study demonstrated that both CBD and CBG could enhance blood sugar regulation, decrease liver fat, and lower blood lipid levels in obese mice.
Interestingly, these compounds achieved these effects largely independent of classical cannabinoid receptors, which are crucial for communication between the gut and liver.
Instead, daily injections of CBD or CBG into the mice’s abdomen increased the production of phosphocreatine, a creatine form released by the liver to replenish energy and maintain cellular health.
After administering a high-fat diet to the mice, the compounds restored some liver function in just four weeks.
CBG was particularly effective, significantly reducing body fat, lowering ‘bad’ cholesterol, and enhancing insulin sensitivity more effectively than CBD.
“Our findings identify a new mechanism by which CBD and CBG enhance hepatic [liver] energy and lysosomal function,” pharmacist and senior author Joseph Tam states.
“This dual metabolic remodeling contributes to improved liver lipid handling and highlights these compounds as promising therapeutic agents for metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD).”
MASLD is characterized by fat accumulation in the liver, distinct from alcohol-related liver disease, and has become the most common chronic liver disorder globally, affecting about a third of the global adult population.
In recent years, animal studies have indicated that bioactive compounds from the cannabis plant might offer promising treatments for MASLD, which is not only a liver condition but also a systemic metabolic disorder.
CBD is one of the most recognized and researched cannabis compounds, though studies are mixed, with some suggesting it has positive metabolic effects.
CBG, however, has recently gained attention for potentially offering even greater health benefits than CBD. Dubbed the “mother of all cannabinoids,” it quickly metabolizes into CBD and THC, the psychoactive component of cannabis.
Both CBD and CBG appear inactive in the central nervous system in their purest form, meaning they do not produce the ‘high’ associated with THC, making them viable medicinal candidates.
The study authors argue that “this study is the first to demonstrate that phytocannabinoids can reprogram hepatic energy buffering.”
Previous research on rodents showed creatine supplementation could resolve MASLD, though it had contrary effects on alcohol-related fatty liver disease.
The current study in MASLD-like mice suggests that certain cannabis compounds can protect the liver by promoting phosphocreatine synthesis and restoring mechanisms that remove fats from the liver.
However, whether these findings apply to humans remains uncertain. Currently, CBD products lack stringent regulation, and their purity varies.
Additionally, these products are typically administered as oral droplets, leaving questions about their effectiveness compared to abdominal injections.
Related: ‘Mother of All Cannabinoids’ Tested in First Human Clinical Trial
If further research can elucidate how CBD and CBG affect liver function, a new drug could potentially replicate their benefits in a safe and accessible form.
The study authors note that “despite the increasing clinical burden of MASLD, no pharmacological treatments have been approved to date.”
“This therapeutic gap underscores the urgent need for novel pharmacological agents that can target the underlying mechanisms of disease progression.”
The research was published in the British Journal of Pharmacology.
