Willow Biosciences Inc. announced the results of its in vitro analysis and the first to be reported topical clinical study on cannabigerol (CBG). In collaboration with Signum Biosciences, Willow's FutureGrownTM CBG, produced using its proprietary yeast platform at multi-kilogram scale, demonstrated antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and skin health-boosting activity in lab assays, and provided similar benefits when applied topically to human skin. A single-blind clinical study in 20 healthy male and female volunteers conducted at Princeton Consumer Research showed Willow's FutureGrownTM CBG clinically reduces skin inflammation, the appearance of redness, and improves barrier function.

The results of the Willow Study were published in Molecules. The Willow Study reports that biosynthetically produced CBG possesses a broad range of anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and skin protecting properties to help slow inflammation, aging, and boost skin barrier function. Gene array analysis of CBG and cannabidiol (CBD) applied topically to a 3D human skin model demonstrates that CBG outperforms CBD, selectively targeting collagen, elastin and other key skin health and hydration genes.

Moreover, in vitro studies in normal human epidermal keratinocytes (NHEKs) and human dermal fibroblasts (HDFs) show that CBG and CBD both possess strong antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, with CBG demonstrating equal if not better activity than CBD. Lastly, the Willow Study is the first to report the clinical effectiveness of topically applied CBG, demonstrating that a 0.1% CBG serum reduces inflammation, redness, and improves the skin barrier significantly better than a placebo.