A new study highlights the potential of cannabis-derived compounds as effective agents against multidrug-resistant (MDR) bacterial infections.
The study is being published in the upcoming issue of the European Journal of Microbiology and Immunology, and it was published online ahead of print by the U.S. National Library of Medicine.
“The number of human infections with multidrug-resistant (MDR) bacteria is increasing worldwide and constitutes a serious threat to human health”, notes the study. “Given the lack of novel antibiotic compounds worsening this dilemma, alternative antibiotic-independent treatment and prevention strategies of infectious diseases applying natural compounds appear highly appreciable.”
Given the “long-known health-beneficial and disease-alleviating properties” of marijuana, researchers “performed a literature search summarizing current knowledge regarding the antibacterial effects of extracts from different parts of the Cannabis sativa plant and of defined Cannabis-derived molecules and their potential mode of action.”
The included peer reviewed studies “revealed that various extracts and essential oils of C. sativa as well as major cannabinoids exerted potent activities against a broad spectrum of Gram-positive bacteria and against some Gram-negative bacterial species including MDR strains. Particularly the disruption of the bacterial cytoplasmic membrane by some cannabinoids resulted in potent antibacterial effects against Gram-positive bacteria including methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus.”
Furthermore, researchers found that “defined cannabinoids inhibited the formation of and eradicated existing bacterial biofilms.”
Researchers say “In conclusion, given their antibacterial properties distinct Cannabis-derived molecules expand the repertoire of antibiotics-independent treatment options in the combat of bacterial infectious diseases which should be further addressed in future studies including clinical trials.”
