A study published this week by researchers at Oregon State University , and relaunched by Forbes magazine, explains how certain components of cannabis can prevent Covid-19 infection by blocking its entry into cells.
A research report, "Cannabinoids Block Cellular Entry of SARS-CoV-2 and the Emerging Variants ", also appeared in the Journal of Natural Products (https://www.forbes.com/sites/ajherrington/2022/01/11/study-finds-cannabis-compounds-prevent-infection-by-covid-19-virus/?sh=13465ebe1753).
THE DISCOVERY Researchers have found that two cannabinoid acids commonly found in cannabis, cannabigerolic acid (Cbga) and cannabidiolic acid (Cbda), can bind to the Coronavirus spike protein preventing the virus from entering cells and causing infections.
I STUDY - The research was led by Richard van Breemen, a scientist at Oregon State's Global Hemp Innovation Center.
"These cannabinoid acids are abundant in hemp and many hemp extracts," said van Breemen, "they are not controlled substances like THC, the psychoactive ingredient in marijuana, and have a good safety profile in humans." Van Breemen added that CBDA and CBGA blocked the action of Covid-19, explaining that "our research showed that hemp compounds were equally effective against the British and South African variants." “Cbda and Cbga - however, the researcher specified - are produced from the hemp plant as precursors of Cbd and Cbg, which are familiar to many consumers. However, they are different from acids and are not contained in hemp-based products ”.
Although more research is needed, van Breemen noted that the study shows cannabinoids could be made into drugs to prevent or treat Covid-19. "These compounds can be taken orally and have a long history of safe use in humans," van Breemen noted, "resistant variants could still arise amid the widespread use of cannabinoids, but that the combination of vaccination and treatment with Cbda / Cbga it should create a much more challenging environment for SARS-CoV-2. "
SPIKE PROTEIN AND CBGA / CBDA - The spike protein is the same part of the target virus in Covid-19 vaccines and antibody therapies. In addition to the spike protein, SARS-CoV-2 has three other structural proteins, 16 non-structural proteins and several components that van Breemen characterized as "accessory" proteins, all potential targets for drugs developed to prevent Covid-19. "Any part of the cycle of infection and replication is a potential target for antiviral intervention, and the connection of the spike protein 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 infections by preventing virus particles from infecting human cells. They bind to 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. "
ADMINISTRABILITY - "Bioavailable orally and with a long history of safe human use, these cannabinoids, isolated or in hemp extracts, have the potential to prevent and treat SARS-CoV-2 infection," the researchers wrote. in a study summary.
REFLECTIONS - There was already a previous study in 2020 that noted the beneficial effects of cannabis on the coronavirus (IF IT TALKS IN THIS ARTICLE: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35007072/). Further progress has been made regarding cannabis and Covid, however it is necessary to specify that hemp should be considered in its phytocomplex because it is the one, in toto, that possesses the beneficial elements. And then the administration is fundamental: we do not speak of comubstione (smoking) but of oral administration. In this regard we point out: https://www.forbes.com/sites/chrisroberts/2022/01/13/no-sorry-smoking-marijuana-does-not-protect-you-from-covid-19/?sh=3305a4d44eee