A new study published in Scientific Reports found that certain minor cannabinoids may have potential as antiviral candidates targeting the measles virus, with cannabichromevarin (CBCV) emerging as the strongest lead.
Researchers from Mohammed V University in Rabat and Mohammed VI University of Sciences and Health used computer modeling to examine whether minor cannabinoids could inhibit the measles virus fusion protein, which plays a key role in allowing the virus to enter cells.
The study evaluated several cannabinoids using molecular docking, 1,000-nanosecond molecular dynamics simulations and free energy analysis. The researchers found that cannabichromenic acid (CBCA) cannabichromevarin and cannabiripsol showed strong binding affinity to the measles virus fusion protein, outperforming the reference inhibitor used in the study.
CBCV showed the strongest overall results, with post-simulation binding free energy calculations indicating it had stronger thermodynamic performance than the reference inhibitor. Researchers said CBCV and CBCA appeared to stabilize the fusion protein in its inactive prefusion form, potentially preventing the conformational changes needed for viral fusion.
The study also found that CBCV had favorable predicted drug-like properties, including an inactive toxicity profile and predicted blood-brain barrier permeability. Researchers said this could make CBCV a promising candidate for further investigation, including for complications tied to measles infection such as subacute sclerosing panencephalitis.
The findings remain preliminary, as the study was based on computational modeling rather than laboratory, animal or human testing. Researchers said additional experimental validation will be needed to determine whether CBCV or related cannabinoids can actually inhibit measles virus activity in biological systems.
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