According to a laboratory study published in the Journal of Nature Products, cannabis compounds prevented the virus that causes Covid-19 from penetrating healthy human cells.
Researchers from Oregon State University discovered that two compounds commonly found in hemp, cannabigerolic acid, or CBGA, and cannabidiolic acid, or CBDA, have the potential to combat coronavirus during a chemical screening effort. They bound to spike proteins found on the virus and blocked a step the pathogen uses to infect people in the study.
In a laboratory, the researchers tested the compounds’ efficacy against the virus’s alpha and beta variants. The study did not involve administering the supplements to participants or comparing infection rates between those who used the compounds and those who did not.
Hemp is a fibre, food, and animal feed source, and extracts are frequently used in cosmetics, body lotions, dietary supplements, and food.
“These compounds can be taken orally and have a long history of safe use in humans,” said Richard van Breemen, a researcher with Oregon State’s Global Hemp Innovation Center. “They have the potential to prevent as well as treat infection by SARS-CoV-2,” he said in a statement.
