Cannabis compounds may block the virus that prevents COVID-19 from entering human cells, study finds

Specific cannabis compounds may inhibit the virus that prevents COVID-19 from entering human cells.

Researchers at Oregon State University identified a pair of cannabinoid acids that bind to the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein, blocking a key step in the process the virus uses to infect people.

The team found cannabis compounds, which can be taken orally and are abundant in hemp, blocked alpha and beta variants from infecting human cells – but the team noted that this research only found Two variants have been studied.

This means, according to the team, the compounds may prove to be successful in blocking other coronavirus strains.

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Richard van Breemen, a researcher at Oregon State’s Global Hemp Innovation Center and study lead, said in a statement: ‘These cannabinoid acids are abundant in hemp and many hemp extracts.

‘They are not a controlled substance like THC, the psychoactive ingredient in marijuana, and have a good safety profile in humans.

‘And our research showed that the cannabis compounds were equally effective against variants of SARS-CoV-2, including variant B.1.1.7, which was first detected in the United Kingdom, and variant B. .1.351, which was first detected in South Africa.’

The specific compounds are cannabigerolic acid, or CBGA, and cannabidiolic acid, CBDA, and the spike protein are the same drug targets used in COVID-19 vaccines and antibody therapy.

The team found cannabis compounds, which can be taken orally and are abundant in hemp, blocked alpha and beta variants from infecting human cells – but the team noted that in this research There are only two types studied.

SARS-CoV-2, which is characterized by crown-like protrusions on its outer surface, contains RNA strands that support its four main structural proteins – the spike, envelope, membrane and nucleocapsid – as well as 16 nonstructural proteins and several ‘accessory’ proteins. encode to. Van Breemen said.

“Any part of the infection and replication cycle is a potential target for antiviral interference, and linking the receptor binding domain of the spike protein to the human cell surface receptor ACE2 is an important step in that cycle,” he said.

‘This means that cell entry inhibitors, such as hemp acid, could be used to prevent SARS-CoV-2 infection and also to reduce infection by preventing virus particles from infecting human cells. could.

‘They bind to spike proteins so that those proteins cannot bind to the ACE2 enzyme, which is abundant on the outer membrane of endothelial cells in the lungs and other organs.’

SARS-CoV-2, which is characterized by crown-like protrusions on its outer surface, contains RNA strands that support its four main structural proteins – the spike, envelope, membrane and nucleocapsid – as well as 16 nonstructural proteins and several ‘accessory’ proteins. encode to.

And using compounds to block virus-receptor interactions is nothing new: It has been used to treat HIV-1 and hepatitis.

Van Breemann said, ‘One of the primary concerns in the epidemic is the spread of variation, of which there are many, and B.1.1.7 and B.1.351 are the most widespread and related.’

‘These variants are known to evade antibodies against early lineage SARS-CoV-2, which is clearly concerning given that current vaccination strategies rely on early lineage spike proteins as antigens.

‘Our data shows that CBDA and CBGA are effective against the two variants that we observed, and we expect this trend to extend to other current and future versions.’