Scientists in the United States say their preclinical studies in human and animal (rodent) cells have shown that cannabidiol, one of the main active ingredients in cannabis and marijuana, “inhibits” coronavirus proliferation in the early stages of infection. its entry into cells. Also, a supplemental data study of 1,212 people showed that those who had a history of medical cannabis use (epilepsy treatment) had a significantly lower rate of Covid-19 infection.
Following these findings, which were published in the journal Science Advances, US scientists suggest that regular cannabidiol clinical trials be performed in humans to see if they could be another “weapon” against the pandemic, or as a preventative medicine or as a treatment in the early stages of Covid-19 infection. On the other hand, they stressed that no one should use cannabidiol alone as a drug against Covid-19, as many questions remain unanswered, such as what might be the right dose and how it should be administered. if such a thing is finally decided.
The researchers, led by Professor Marsa Rosner of the University of Chicago Medical Center, said they observed anti-coronavirus activity only for cannabidiol and its metabolite 7-OH-CBD and not for other cannabinoids. They also found that tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the main psychoactive substance in cannabis and marijuana, appears to have opposite effects and to offset the action of cannabidiol against coronavirus.
Therefore, as they pointed out, “this finding alone eliminates the usefulness of marijuana as an effective source of antiviral cannabidiol, highlighting the importance of the latter being completely pure, with a specific composition and high concentration, while commercially available cannabis products show large deviations “. They stressed that the consumption of commercial products containing cannabidiol as a way of treating the coronavirus is not appropriate.
The researchers put cannabidiol in the lab along with human lung cells (which have the ACE2 receptor, through which the coronavirus enters them and infects them). After 48 hours, a strong inhibitory effect of virus replication was observed within the cells, without toxic side effects. The experiment was repeated with other types of human cells, as well as with three variants of the virus (Alpha, Beta, Gamma) and in all cases the results were equally positive.
The experiments were continued with animals (mice) in which cannabidiol was administered twice daily in two different doses for one week before coronavirus infection and four days after infection. Cannabidiol was found to significantly reduce viral load at both the lower and upper doses, with no animals showing weight loss or signs of disease. Cannabidiol does not prevent the virus from entering the cells, but it is effective in inhibiting its proliferation in the early stages of the infection.
“Cannabidiol has anti-inflammatory properties, so we thought it might stop the second phase of Covid-19 infection, which involves the immune system, the so-called cytokine storm,” Rosner said. Unexpectedly, however, we saw that it can immediately inhibit the coronavirus replication within the cells of the lungs. We just wanted to know if cannabidiol would affect the immune system. “No rational person had ever imagined that this substance would block the reproduction of the virus itself, but that is exactly what it did.”
Thus, the researchers concluded that “these results demonstrate the preclinical efficacy of cannabidiol as an antiviral drug against SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus during the early stages of infection.” According to Rosner, “a clinical trial is now needed to determine whether cannabidiol is actually effective in preventing or suppressing SARS-CoV-2 infection, but we believe it can be used as a prophylactic treatment.” .
Cannabidiol (CBD), according to the Greek Wikipedia, is an organic compound and one of at least 85 cannabinoids in cannabis. It is an important phytocannabinoid, which corresponds to 40% of the cannabis plant extract and is used in a wide range of medical applications. Due to its medical functions, the use of cannabidiol in consumer products has been legalized since 2017 in Greece. Despite its presence in the cannabis plant, cannabidiol is not a drug and is not addictive.
On the other hand, according to American researchers, while cannabidiol seems very safe when consumed in food or drink, other methods of its use, such as vaporization, can have negative effects, such as possible damage to the lungs and heart. Also, it has not been sufficiently studied in pregnant women, therefore its use should be done only under medical supervision and with caution.
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