A recent study published in the Journal of Cellular and Molecular Medicine has revealed that cannabidiol (CBD) may have antiviral properties against the SARS-CoV-2 virus, which causes COVID-19.
A 3D model of SARS-CoV-2 (photo credit: Georgia State University).
“The aim of this study was to determine the antiviral activity of cannabidiol (CBD) against SARS-CoV-2 infection”, states the study’s abstract. “CBD is the second most studied cannabinoid obtained from Cannabis plants. We investigated the potential use of CBD, which has so far proven to have a positive effect on different diseases, in the SARS-CoV-2 infection.”
To test this, in vivo studies were carried out using K18-hACE2 transgenic mice, a commonly used model for studying human viral infections, including COVID-19. To reveal the potential therapeutic effect of the CBD at “the histopathological and molecular level challenge experiments were performed.”
The study was designed with two groups (n = 10) and in the treatment group animals were infected with SARS-CoV-2 virus strain B.1.1.7 alpha before the administration of CBD.
“While the disease progressed and resulted in death in the control group that was infected by the virus alone, it was observed that the infection slowed down and the survival rate increased in the mice treated with CBD along with the virus”, claim researchers. They conclude by stating that “In this study, K18-hACE2 transgenic mice infected with the wild SARS-CoV-2 virus were used to investigate and prove the antiviral activity of CBD.”
For the full text of the study, click here.
