Cannabigerol Modulates Blood Pressure and Vascular Reactivity in a Rat Model of Hypertension and Platelet Responses in Human Blood In Vitro

Cannabigerol (CBG) exerts vasorelaxant effects in human pulmonary arteries and lowers blood pressure (BP) in normotensive mice. However, data on the cardiovascular effects of CBG in hypertension and platelet function remain limited. Consequently, the aims of our study were as follows: to assess the effect of CBG on BP and heart rate (HR) in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) and their normotensive controls (Wistar Kyoto rats; WKY); to investigate the vasorelaxant potential of CBG in small mesenteric arteries (sMAs) and the aorta; and to investigate the effect of CBG on platelet function in human blood. Acute CBG administration (1, 3, and 10 mg/kg) dose-dependently lowered BP and HR in SHR and WKY rats, with comparable effects between strains (except for a greater reduction in systolic BP in SHR). Furthermore, experiments on pithed rats support the possibility of both central and peripheral contributions to this hypotensive effect. The peripheral component is supported by CBG-induced vasorelaxation in sMAs and aortas, which was more pronounced in sMAs and in WKY rats. Additionally, we demonstrated that CBG inhibits platelet aggregation (collagen-induced) and secretion and reduces thrombus formation and platelet procoagulant response under arterial flow conditions. Taken together, these data indicate that CBG exerts multifaceted cardiovascular effects.