Scientists Reveal Findings On Cannabis' Potential To Prevent COVID-19 Infections

Can cannabis or hemp help treat COVID-19 infections? 

This will be the topic of Oregon State University’s Science Pub event, scheduled for Dec. 6. The free event comes nearly a year after a study revealed certain cannabinoid acids from hemp (Cannabis sativa) can help prevent infection from the virus that causes COVID-19 by obstructing its entry into cells was published in the Journal of Natural Products. 

The research discovered that two cannabinoid acids in hemp - cannabigerolic acid, or CBGA, and cannabidiolic acid, also known as CBDA have the ability to bind to the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein – the virus that causes COVID-19. By binding to the spike protein, these acids can block the virus from reaching into cells and causing infection, concluded the research.

“Orally bioavailable and with a long history of safe human use, these cannabinoids, isolated or in hemp extracts, have the potential to prevent as well as treat infection by SARS-CoV-2,” the researchers noted in the study abstract.

At the event, which can be attended both in person at the Old World Deli in Corvallis or viewed online, the lead author of the study and a professor of pharmaceutical sciences at Oregon State, Richard van Breemen, will hold a presentation titled “Natural products and hemp: Under-appreciated sources for COVID-19 therapeutic agents.” 

“Any part of the infection and replication cycle is a potential target for antiviral intervention, and the connection of the spike protein’s receptor binding domain to the human cell surface receptor ACE2 is a critical step in that cycle,” van Breeman said in January. “That means cell entry inhibitors, like the acids from hemp, could be used to prevent SARS-CoV-2 infection and also to shorten infections by preventing virus particles from infecting human cells. They bind to the spike proteins so those proteins can’t bind to the ACE2 enzyme, which is abundant on the outer membrane of endothelial cells in the lungs and other organs.”

Van Breeman noted that even though natural products account for around half of all drugs in use, natural drug discovery research is not a priority of large pharmaceutical corporations and federal funding agencies. 

Hemp is known to be a rich source of unique natural products, many of which have pharmacological activity, van Breemen said.

Registration is required to attend Science Pub whether in person or online. Sponsors of Science Pub include the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry, Old World Deli, Oregon State Research Office and Oregon State University.

Photo: Benzinga Edit; Sources: Fusion Medical Animation and Girl with red hat on Unsplash