On January 12, a study by researchers affiliated with Oregon State University (USA) was published highlighting how some components of cannabis can prevent Covid-19 infection by blocking its entry into cells. A report on the research, "Cannabinoids Block Cellular Entry of SARS-CoV-2 and the Emerging Variants", also appeared in the Journal of Natural Products .
Researchers have discovered that two cannabinoid acids commonly found in cannabis strains, cannabigerolic acid or Cbga and cannabidiolic acid, also known as Cbda , can bind to the spike protein of the novel coronavirus. By binding to the spike protein, the two acids can prevent the virus from entering cells and causing infection.
The research was conducted by Richard van Breemen , a researcher at Oregon State’s Global Hemp Innovation Center at the College of Pharmacy and the Linus Pauling Institute, in collaboration with scientists at Oregon Health & Science University . “These cannabinoid acids are abundant in hemp and many hemp extracts,” van Breemen said. “They are not controlled substances like THC, the psychoactive ingredient in marijuana, and they have a good safety profile in humans.”
"Any part of the infection and replication cycle is a potential target for antiviral intervention, and the binding of the spike protein's receptor binding domain to the human cell surface receptor Ace2 is a critical step in that cycle," van Breemen said. "This means that cell entry inhibitors, such as hemp acids, could be used to prevent SARS-CoV-2 infection and also to reduce infection by preventing virus particles from infecting human cells. They bind to the spike proteins so that those proteins cannot bind to the ACE2 enzyme, which is abundant on the outer membrane of endothelial cells in the lungs and other organs."
It should be emphasized that at the moment in vitro studies have been carried out, therefore they will have to be subsequently validated on animals and then on humans.
While more research is needed, van Breemen noted that the study shows that cannabinoids could be developed into drugs to prevent or treat Covid-19.
This news highlights the importance of cannabis for therapeutic use. The interest in our plant is constantly increasing, and fortunately, the scientific literature supporting its effectiveness is increasingly extensive.
Sources:
Agi https://www.agi.it/estero/news/2022-01-12/componenti-cannabis-prevendosi-covid-15211331/
LaRepubblica https://www.repubblica.it/salute/2022/01/14/news/cannabis_studio_covid-333793694/