Cannabigerol reduces locomotor activity but not anxiety-like behavior in naive rats

Background: Cannabigerol (CBG) is the biosynthetic precursor to tetrahydrocannabinol and cannabidiol and is considered non-intoxicating. CBG has demonstrated anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and neuroprotective properties in preclinical models. However, it is debatable whether CBG itself produces effects on anxiety or locomotion in naive animals. We hypothesized that CBG would reduce anxiety-like behavior in naive rats. Methods: Male Long-Evans rats (n=6/group) received CBG via oral gavage in sesame oil vehicle. Animals were first tested in the elevated plus maze (EPM; 5 min) 45-60 minutes after receiving a single dose of vehicle, 50, 100, or 200 mg/kg CBG. Eight days later, the same animals were tested in the open field test (OFT; 20 min) 45-60 minutes after receiving a single dose of vehicle, 100, 200, or 300 mg/kg CBG. Results: In the EPM, no differences reached significance across any dose. However, trends showed that as the dose increased, total distance moved, average velocity, and time spent in the open and center arms decreased. In the OFT, CBG dose-dependently decreased locomotor activity: animals moved less and rested more at higher CBG doses. Specifically, 300 mg/kg decreased total distance traveled, horizontal counts, and ambulatory counts compared to vehicle, while 200 and 300 mg/kg increased resting time. Conclusions: CBG had no effect on anxiety-like behavior but reduced locomotor activity at higher doses, suggesting effects on motivation or arousal. Interestingly, lower doses produced no observable effects, which may be beneficial for preventative treatments. Future work will examine how CBG produces these effects and its potential applications in traumatic brain injury. Funding Source: Funding to BEG from the Mississippi Cannabis Research Board. This abstract was presented at the American Physiology Summit 2026 and is only available in HTML format. There is no downloadable file or PDF version. The Physiology editorial board was not involved in the peer review process.