Essentia Pura Attends the Natural & Organic Products Europe in London

Finally, after 2 long years spent mostly on online calls and meetings due to Covid-19, we were finally able to meet with our partners in person and make new connections on the 3rd and 4th of April at the Natural and Organic Products Show at the Exhibition Centre London.

We would like to thank Spirit Slovenija since this operation was selected for co-financing on the Public tender for co-financing individual participation of companies at international trade fairs abroad in the years 2019-2022.

The investment is co-financed by the Republic of Slovenia and the European Union under the European Regional Development.

We were happy to see the visitors finding interest in our products and services. We have gained lots of attention, especially from shops specializing in natural products who were looking for white-label solutions. Our recently developed natural CBD skincare products got the most interest.

Visitors were greeted by Nejc, Manca and Oliver who presented our company, our products and the services we offer.

Overall they attracted an attendance of around 7.000 visitors who came to meet 800 exhibiting companies, covering the fastest growing sectors in retail, including organic, vegan, and free-from food, drink, supplements, personal care, and natural beauty. With buyers representing the full retail spectrum, from major multiples, to online, convenience, premium stores and the important independent health store sector. The event is also gaining an increasingly international following, with over 1,000 major buyers representing some of the most important retailers from 73 countries.

5 MINUTE read

CBGA (Cannabigerolic Acid) What It Is, Uses & Benefits

The cannabis plant is not just about cannabidiol (CBD). CBD is just one of the most abundant cannabinoids. Even cannabis experts of 20-century knew that there are many other cannabinoids. And researchers could discover many of them in the mid of the last century.

Any plant contains thousands of organic compounds that work in sync with each other, providing nutrients and health benefits. But, since plants are so complex, identifying the beneficial compounds is challenging even for modern science.

The list of identified organic compounds mostly unique to the cannabis plant is expanding fast. New studies could identify more than 500 beneficial compounds and above 100 cannabinoids in the plant.

Understanding various cannabinoids is vital, considering that they have different biological effects. However, what has amazed researchers those various cannabinoids not only have different health effects, but they can often have just an opposing action on the human body.

CBGA molecular structure

What is CBGA

CBGA is one of the non-psychotic cannabinoids in the cannabis plant. Researchers have identified more than 100 cannabinoids in cannabis or hemp plants, but there is something unique about CBGA.

CBGA is unique in the way that it is a precursor to all other cannabinoids. It means that it gets converted to all other cannabinoids in the plant, including CBD and THC. It also means that it is regularly produced in the plant in small amounts for later transformation into other compounds.

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CBDA and CBGA: What’s the Difference

To understand the difference in a simple term, CBGA is the grandfather of all cannabinoids, and CBDA is the father of CBD.

In the hemp plant, enzymatic activity converts CBGA to CBDA (Cannabidiolic acid), CBCA (cannabichromenic acid), and THCA (tetrahydrocannabinolic acid). Therefore, it means that CBD, CBC, and THC are the outcome of enzymatic conversion of CBDA, CBCA, and THCA, in hemp or cannabis plant.

Thus, various enzymes convert CBGA to different cannabinoids, including CBDA. Although CBDA is related to CBGA, it is chemically different, and it also means different health benefits.

It is worth understanding that science is still exploring the health benefits of non-CBD cannabinoids. Studies show that even a tiny change in the chemical structure of any cannabinoid may significantly alter its role in the human body.

However, the complex is to understand the interaction of various cannabinoids to demystify the “entourage effect.” Researchers know that taking multiple cannabinoids is more beneficial. But they do not understand how different cannabinoids potentiate the action of each other.

CBGA Effects: How Does It Feel

CBGA is a non-psychotic. It means that a person using it would not get high. However, it does not mean that it would not have any impact on the brain. It only means that it would have mild action on the brain that would be pleasant, relaxing, and perhaps pain relieving.

It may also help lower stress levels and anxiety, reduce nausea, and help a person feel fresh. So, it would provide relief due to its impact on CB1 receptors in the brain and its effect on CB2 receptors in other body parts.

CBGA benefits

CBGA Benefits for The Human Body

Although CBGA is less studied by science than CBD, nevertheless, there are many studies indicating that it may help in various ways. In addition, some of the experience regarding its health benefits come from the use of broad-spectrum CBD. Thus, it is good to use alone or in combination with CBD.

Diabetes & Heart health

It is no secret that there is a strong association between diabetes and vascular diseases. Studies show that CBGA can inhibit an enzyme called aldose reductase, and thus help reduce glucose levels in the body. It also has a positive impact on lipid profile.

CBGA is not very harsh, and most of its actions are mild. Thus, do not expect to lower glucose immediately with CBGA. However, its prolonged and continuous use would help gain better control over blood glucose and improve lipid profile. Moreover, it has an excellent safety profile.

Further, studies show that it may help with diabetes or metabolic disorders due to its ability to modulate receptors called PPAR. These receptors play an important role in cellular metabolism, and their dysfunction is associated with the development of insulin resistance and diabetes.

It May help control epilepsy

The role of cannabinoids in controlling epilepsy has become a subject of high interest in recent years. It happened due to the approval of a CBD-based drug by the US FDA and EMA. Now researchers know that they are treading the right path. They understand that many benefits of hemp extracts are due to lesser-known cannabinoids.

Like other cannabinoids, researchers are testing CBGA for its anticonvulsant properties, and the initial results are highly encouraging. Early studies show that CBGA is undoubtedly one of the cannabinoids good for reducing convulsions in epilepsy. There is strong evidence from earlier animal studies that it works.

Other health effects

Despite its discovery more than half a century back, there is still limited research into its health benefits. It is because most cannabis research stopped for most of the second half of the 20th century. However, new studies indicate that it is suitable for reducing inflammation, pain, and stress and has many other benefits.

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From CBGA to CBG: What’s The Process

As CBGA is the father of all cannabinoids, it is possible to convert it into other cannabinoids like cannabigerol (CBG). In some cases, this conversion may require the use of specific enzymes; in other instances, just an application of heat.

CBGA is pretty simple to convert to CBG through heat application which results in the decarboxylation of CBGA and formation of CBG. CBG is no longer an acid. CBG is of particular interest due to its opposing action to THC.

Thus, CBG antagonizes CB1 receptors in the brain, unlike THC. This opposing action means that it may play a role in managing marijuana addiction and other substance abuse disorders. Additionally, it also appears to affect adrenergic receptors and serotonergic receptors and thus help prevent mood disorders and other brain issues. It is also suitable for reducing inflammation.

To conclude, science has developed a sufficient understanding of CBD, and now is the right time to start exploring other cannabinoids in cannabis or hemp plant. Further, there is a need to understand how they interact with CBD and explore their health benefits.

If you are interested in exploring the power of CBD, understand what products are right for you? Just ping us.

CBDV (Cannabidivarin) What Is It, Uses & Benefits

Thousands of articles are written each year about cannabidiol, or CBD. CBD is revolutionary in many ways. It has become the most popular cannabinoid compound in history. It has also helped revolutionize the industry, and help make THC-free cannabis extract legal to produce, sell, possess, and use.

But there is some downside also to such immense popularity of CBD. Its popularity means that most people and even researchers seem to overlook the fact that the cannabis plant is not just about CBD. It has many more beneficial compounds that need to be discovered.

Studies show that cannabis plant extract may have as many as 400 chemical compounds with different health effects. Moreover, 100 plus of these compounds is cannabinoid compounds.

CBDA (Cannabidiolic Acid): Everything You Should Know

What is interesting about various cannabinoid compounds is that they have very different biological effects despite a similar structure. It means that in some cases, seemingly similar cannabinoid compounds may have completely opposed action. Thus, some may suppress appetite, and others stimulate, some may suppress immunity, others boost, and so on.

It is clear that this amazing plant has much more to offer. Using pure CBD is good, safe, and time-tested. However, it is time to explore other cannabinoids in the plant. It is vital to understand their health effects and start using them alone or along with CBD.

It is entirely possible that tweaking the content of various cannabinoids in a supplement may help produce products with unique health benefits.

Researchers have already started exploring various cannabinoids. And one such cannabinoid is Cannabidiolic acid, or CBDA. It is entirely possible that it may gain significant popularity in the near future due to its unique health effects.

What Is CBDV?

Cannabidivarin or cannabidivarol is one of the non-psychoactive cannabinoids present in the cannabis plant. It is one of the more than 60 known cannabinoids. It is present in very small amounts in most cannabis species or hemp plants.

Although it is not known well in the cannabis world, it was identified in the plant way back in 1969. It is especially high in certain cannabis varieties native to Asia, like cannabis Indica.

CBDV molecular structure

CBD vs. CBDV: What’s The Difference?

CBDV is only slightly different from CBD in chemical structures. However, this is enough to provide it with some unique properties. Nonetheless, it appears to share many of the benefits of CBD, too.

Thus, CBDV is good for reducing inflammation. However, compared to CBD, studies show that it may have a more significant effect on endocannabinoids and other receptors in the brain. Thus, it appears to be especially good for brain disorders, pain, and seizures.

Additionally, when compared to CBD, it may be better for mood disorders, overcoming nausea. It appears to be also suitable for digestive health.

Thus, it seems that it is quite similar to CBD but has more potent action on some brain receptors.

CBDV Benefits for The Human Body

Some the pharma companies like GW pharmaceuticals already have CBD-based approved drugs for the treatment of resistant epilepsy. And it appears that it is also highly interested in exploring the role of CBDV in controlling seizures.

Some of the early studies in both animals and pilot studies in humans show that it is quite good in reducing the frequency of seizures in some kinds of epilepsies. It seems to act both on CB1 and CB2 receptors. Additionally, researchers are also exploring its role in autism spectrum disorders.

There is really strong interest in this molecule in managing seizures, brain disorders, mood issues, and inflammation. Moreover, it is now readily isolated from the cannabis plant, and its chemical structure is understood well.

In recent years, another company called Jazz Pharmaceuticals has also started clinical trials for CBDV in Autism Spectrum Disorders and another study in a rare kind of resistant epilepsy.

When large pharmaceutical companies start exploring some molecules, it generally means that they have a high level of confidence in the efficacy of the molecule. Here it is essential to understand that Jazz Pharmaceuticals or GW pharmaceuticals are carrying out clinical studies to get the US FDA nod for the use of CBDV as a medical drug.

However, such clinical studies are not needed for using CBDV as a health supplement. Greater CBDV might likely contribute to the higher effectiveness of broad-spectrum CBD products in various brain disorders.

Further, exploring its use in controlling pain, nausea, swelling, nerve pains, mood disorders, and maybe even overcoming substance abuse disorders is good.

Cannabidivarin Effects: What’s It Used For?

At present, very few supplements are using CBDV, and thus the market is nascent. However, it means that there are a lot of opportunities for supplement producers to consider using CBDV. Science shows that it is especially good for brain health, preventing seizures and autism spectrum disorders.

Of course, quite like CBD, one may also use it for anxiety, depression, pain, sleep issues, and stress reduction. It is also suitable for joint pains, gut inflammatory conditions, nausea, etc.

At present, it is not clear how it mixes with CBD in more significant amounts. It could be a direction for future research. In some cannabis plant species, both CBD and CBDV are present in abundance. Thus, there is no doubt that both will mix well. However, science needs to explore the unique health effects of using CBD and CBDV in higher dosages.

To conclude, there are more than 60 known cannabinoids in the cannabis plant, and the structure of many of these cannabinoids is well known. Science has also explored the health effects of many of these cannabinoids. Some of the cannabinoids share CBD properties, but others are quite different.

CBD is now quite popular, and people know its health benefits. However, many other cannabinoids like CBDV remain neglected. Nonetheless, things are changing fast. The significant interest of the pharma industry in this molecule only shows that it is quite effective in certain disease conditions.

However, supplement producers do not essentially need to wait for the results of these studies, and they can start offering products with other cannabinoids for added health benefits to consumers.

If you want to learn more about CBDV and how it can help create a unique CBD product offering, contact us, and we would be glad to discuss it.