A new peer-reviewed study published in the journal Virology finds that cannabidiol (CBD) and a green tea-derived compound may work together to inhibit the virus responsible for COVID-19.
Photo: CDC.gov
Conducted by researchers at Harbin Medical University in China and the University of Calgary in Canada, the study examined the effects of several natural polyphenolic compounds—CBD, green tea polyphenols, epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), and theaflavin—on the SARS-CoV-2 virus in vitro. The results showed that CBD and tea polyphenols had the strongest impact on preventing viral entry, with their effects comparable to chloroquine, which served as the study’s positive control.
CBD was also found to significantly reduce expression of ACE2, the receptor that allows the virus to enter cells. Meanwhile, EGCG produced the greatest reduction in the virus’s spike protein, a key element in its infectivity.
The researchers identified eleven proteins that interact with the spike protein and were influenced by EGCG. They also conducted gene expression analysis, showing that CBD and EGCG both modulated multiple virus-related genes, with CBD having the broader genetic impact.
Further analysis revealed that CBD and EGCG influenced overlapping biological pathways related to DNA repair, the cell cycle, and protein synthesis. The authors conclude that the combination of CBD and EGCG offers a multi-level strategy to block both initial infection and reinfection, while also minimizing risks tied to altering ACE2 levels.
These findings, though limited to lab settings, provide early evidence for potential combination therapies involving CBD and plant-based compounds in the fight against COVID-19.
Researchers conclude the study by stating:
The combined use of CBD and EGCG can complement each other’s advantages in inhibiting the invasion and reinvasion process of the virus at multiple levels, while minimizing the adverse effects of ACE2 expression level changes. Findings in this work offer new information for developing multi-level therapeutic strategies to control SARS-CoV-2 infection and, specifically, provide a novel antiviral agent combination of CBD and EGCG for the control of COVID-19.
