Orally Administered CBD/CBG Hemp Extract Reduces Severity of Ulcerative Colitis and Pain in a Murine Model

<b>Background:</b> Ulcerative colitis (UC) is an autoimmune disorder characterized by inflammation of the mucosa that gives rise to a disrupted epithelial morphology. Persistent or recurrent inflammation and the debilitating nature of the associated symptoms make treatment of UC challenging. Cannabinoids derived from <i>Cannabis sativa</i> L. have been used for treatment of gastrointestinal disorders due to the wide-ranging therapeutic benefits of these compounds. <b>Methods</b><i>:</i> We evaluated a commercial hemp extract, high in cannabigerol (CBG) and cannabidiol (CBD), as a novel treatment for UC symptoms using the dextran sodium sulfate (DSS) model in mice. Hemp extract was administered via two different routes of administration, intraperitoneal (i.p) and oral (p.o). <b>Results:</b> Specifically, we observed that cannabinoid treatment reduced damage to the colonic epithelium. We also observed that CBG/CBD rich hemp extracts help reduce pain-related responses in these animals. <b>Conclusions:</b> Together, the data suggest that cannabinoid administration has the potential to be an effective alternate therapeutic option for UC management.