Cannabigerol Modulates Cannabinoid Receptor Type 2 Expression in the Spinal Dorsal Horn and Attenuates Neuropathic Pain Models
<b>Background/Objectives:</b> The expanding focus on novel therapeutic pathways for long-term pain relief has directed interest toward compounds obtained from Cannabis sativa. This study evaluated the antinociceptive potential of cannabigerol-enriched extract (CBG) in models of acute and chronic hypernociception, along with morphological outcomes. <b>Methods:</b> Formalin and hot plate tests were used on male Swiss mice to assess acute oral antinociception. To the chronic pain model, 8-week-old male Wistar rats underwent spinal nerve ligation (SNL), and CBG was administered orally by gavage once daily for 14 days. <b>Results:</b> CBG reduced nociceptive responses in the formalin test and hot plate tests, mainly at a dose of 30 mg/kg, showing antinociceptive activity. CBG attenuated SNL-induced thermal and mechanical hypersensitivity, accompanied by reduced microglial density and spinal morphological changes. Importantly, cannabinoid receptor type 2 (CB2R) signaling contributed to the antinociceptive effects of orally administered CBG, whereas cannabinoid receptor type 1 (CB1R), Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF), and Tumor Necrosis Factor (TNF) did not appear to play major roles under our experimental conditions. <b>Conclusions:</b> Collectively, these findings support CBG as a promising alternative for chronic pain management.
Authors
- Gabriel Gripp Fernandes
- Fabrícia Lima Fontes-Dantas (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5201-0927)
- Eduardo Habib Bechelane Maia (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0640-874X)
- Guilherme Carneiro Montes
- Luisa Menezes Trefilio
- Fernanda Antunes (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7261-451X)
- Bismarck Rezende (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4005-6493)
- Maria Eduarda Barros de Andrade (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1939-5546)
- Kethely Lima Marques (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8018-8968)
- Yure Bazilio dos Santos
- Vitória Macario de Simas Gonçalves
- Barbara Conceição Costa Azeredo de Oliveira
- Gabriela Guedes Nascimento
- Karine Simões Calumbi
Institutions
- Universidade Federal de Juiz de Fora (BR)
- State University of Norte Fluminense (BR)
- Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro (BR)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Pharmaceuticals
- Published
- 2025-10-08
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.3390/ph18101508
- Primary Topic
- Pain Mechanisms and Treatments
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 0.00