CBD and COVID-19 Information
CBD and COVID-19 Information
As the pandemic continues and breakthrough infections become more common, researchers are looking for new ways to treat people who have already CBD and COVID-19 Information. Their latest research suggests that a compound found in cannabis, known as CBD, may help stop the second phase of the virus’s infection, which involves triggering a huge immune system response that leads to symptom flare-ups and can ultimately kill people.
CBD and Immunity: Separating Fact from Fiction Amidst the COVID-19 Pandemic
Scientists were surprised to find that CBD, which does not contain psychoactive THC, was able to directly inhibit SARS coronavirus (CoV)-2 replication in human lung cells. They were also surprised to find that when the virus infected cells treated with CBD, it did not trigger the cytokine storm that usually leads to disease symptoms.
The scientists theorized that the reason that CBD might protect against the virus might have to do with a specific chemical in the compound binding to a receptor on the cell’s surface. This particular receptor is targeted by many antiviral drugs, including vaccines. The scientists then analyzed two chemicals, cannabidiogerolic acid and cannabidiolic acid, that occur in the cannabis plant and found that they bind to the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein, blocking a key step in the viral process of infecting cells.
The study authors published their findings in the journal Cannabis and Cannabinoid Research. In animal studies, they found that CBD decreased inflammatory responses to SARS-CoV-2 in the lungs. They saw reductions in protein exudation from the lungs, inflammatory cytokines and myeloperoxidase activity.