Cannabis Compounds: Treatment for COVID-19?
Cannabis, also known as hemp or marijuana, has been approved for use recreationally and medically in many states of the United States over the last two decades. It was also used medicinally in ancient practices dating back to 2900 B.C. Throughout the devastating coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2/COVID-19) pandemic, researchers have been looking for various ways to combat the new viral disease. Some have even tested controlled substances like cannabis. Researchers at the Oregon State University College of Pharmacology aimed to discover whether cannabis-derived compounds have any potential benefit for preventing or treating COVID-19. They learned that certain cannabinoid compounds prevented COVID-19 infections in experiments with human epithelial cells.
To assess the possible benefits of cannabinoid compounds, the researchers first analyzed how SARS-CoV-2 infects the human body. They discovered that the key step in COVID-19 infection is when the viral spike protein of SARS-CoV-2 binds to the human cell surface receptor called angiotensin converting enzyme-2 (ACE2). This receptor protein is most prevalent in the alveoli, which are cells deep within the lungs where oxygen and carbon dioxide exchange occurs. Since the ACE2 receptor is where the virus proliferates in the body, this is the key location that scientists have been studying, aiming to find which treatments would effectively block SARS-CoV-2. They found that special biochemical molecules called ligands can inhibit the virus’s entry into the cell by binding to the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein.
Using magnetic screening technology, scientists were able to identify two ligands in cannabis that would often bind to the spike protein: cannabidiolic acid (CBDA) and cannabigerolic acid (CBGA). After identifying these ligands, the experiments involved live and pseudovirus forms of SARS-CoV-2 cell infections that were treated with CBDA, CBGA, or a neutral control substance. After 24 hours, the researchers found that the cells treated with CBDA or CBGA had no viral RNA and only a very small concentration of CBDA or CBGA was needed to reduce the live virus count by half. The same tests were performed on two major SARS-CoV-2 variants, B.1.1.7 and B.1.351, and the results were equally successful as the results obtained with the initial virus. This suggests that CBDA and CBGA work to oppose ACE2’s role in helping SARS-CoV-2 infect human epithelial cells.
To assess the possible benefits of cannabinoid compounds, the researchers first analyzed how SARS-CoV-2 infects the human body. They discovered that the key step in COVID-19 infection is when the viral spike protein of SARS-CoV-2 binds to the human cell surface receptor called angiotensin converting enzyme-2 (ACE2). This receptor protein is most prevalent in the alveoli, which are cells deep within the lungs where oxygen and carbon dioxide exchange occurs. Since the ACE2 receptor is where the virus proliferates in the body, this is the key location that scientists have been studying, aiming to find which treatments would effectively block SARS-CoV-2. They found that special biochemical molecules called ligands can inhibit the virus’s entry into the cell by binding to the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein.
Using magnetic screening technology, scientists were able to identify two ligands in cannabis that would often bind to the spike protein: cannabidiolic acid (CBDA) and cannabigerolic acid (CBGA). After identifying these ligands, the experiments involved live and pseudovirus forms of SARS-CoV-2 cell infections that were treated with CBDA, CBGA, or a neutral control substance. After 24 hours, the researchers found that the cells treated with CBDA or CBGA had no viral RNA and only a very small concentration of CBDA or CBGA was needed to reduce the live virus count by half. The same tests were performed on two major SARS-CoV-2 variants, B.1.1.7 and B.1.351, and the results were equally successful as the results obtained with the initial virus. This suggests that CBDA and CBGA work to oppose ACE2’s role in helping SARS-CoV-2 infect human epithelial cells.
Image Source: Aphiwat chuangchoem
Ultimately, this research provides promising data for new COVID-19 treatments and the development of new drugs utilizing cannabis. So far, only one drug containing cannabis-derived compounds, a seizure medication called Epidiolex, has ever been approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The cannabis compound in Epidiolex, cannabidiol, has effects that differ from those of CBDA and CBGA, which shows the wide variety of possible medications that could potentially come from cannabis.
However, cannabis is still a Schedule I controlled substance in the United States and is illegal federally. It is important to note that the above described research is purely experimental. Cannabinoids are not officially approved, nor are they recommended as a treatment or preventative substance for COVID-19. With that being said, Cannabis is a readily available plant that may soon prove useful in the development of a drug that could someday help mitigate the effects of a pandemic.
However, cannabis is still a Schedule I controlled substance in the United States and is illegal federally. It is important to note that the above described research is purely experimental. Cannabinoids are not officially approved, nor are they recommended as a treatment or preventative substance for COVID-19. With that being said, Cannabis is a readily available plant that may soon prove useful in the development of a drug that could someday help mitigate the effects of a pandemic.
Featured Image Source: Kindel Media
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