Published in the International Journal of Biological Macromolecules, a study aimed to estimate the antiviral activity of cannabinoids against the covid-19.
After carrying out both in silico and in vitro tests, the researchers highlighted that CBD and THC they are "antiviral molecules more powerful against covid-19 of the reference drugs lopinavir, chloroquine, and remdesivir".
CBD and THC: powerful antivirals for covid-19
"Our findings suggest that CBD and THC are possible drugs against human coronavirus that could be used in combination with other drugs to treat COVID-19 in patients."
This was confirmed by Korean researchers from various institutes who, after analyzing five cannabinoids: THC, CBD, THCA, CBDA and CBN, demonstrated "the antiviral potencies of CBD and THC against SARS-CoV-2".
"It can be concluded that these compounds are potential antiviral molecules towards SARS-CoV-2", the scholars underlined, explaining the double mechanism of effectiveness.
One part cannabinoids"they block the viral translation procedure by inhibiting the SARS-CoV-2 Mpro - and on the other - reduce also levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines in lung cells by acting as CB-2 receptor agonists.
The effectiveness of cannabinoids has already been highlighted in several scientific studies. Like the one published in the journal Science Advances, where researchers explain that CBD and its metabolite 7-OH-CBD they effectively block the replication of Sars-CoV-2 in lung epithelial cells.
As proof of this, a survey of 1,212 US patients found that: among those taking CBD, the rate of positive Covid-19 tests was significantly lower, compared to other control groups with similar backgrounds who were not taking CBD.
* Photo by Mika Baumeister on Unsplash
