A new study from Oregon State University has found that some particular hemp compounds have been proven to stop the SARS-CoV-2 virus (the virus that causes COVID-19) from entering human cells. The study has been published in the Journal of Natural Products.
Researchers have identified several cannabinoid ligands (an ion or molecule) and ranked them by affinity to the spike protein. The two cannabinoids showing the highest affinities were the CBDA and CBGA compounds. Both were shown to prevent entry into human cells and block infection. Importantly, they were able to do so for different variants of the virus giving hope to a broader more durable immunity.
According to the findings: “The concentrations needed to block infection by 50% of viruses is high but might be clinically achievable…CBDA administered orally to human volunteers at 0.063 mg/kg showed greater bioavailability than CBD”
The live-virus data indicated that inhibition of virus into the cells by CBDA and CBGA occurs at the point of cell entry.
What are CBDA and CBGA?
CBDA (cannabidiolic acid) is secreted into the cannabis plant – mainly its stems, leaves and flowers. When the cannabis plant is processed by heating, the acid is removed from CBDA. It’s this process that activates CBD. At its core, CBDA is the raw form of CBD. While CBD comes from cannabis plants that are fully grown and cured, CBDA resides in plants that are still growing.
CBGA (cannabigerolic acid) is thought of as the precursor to THC. Enzymes convert CBGA into THCA – which is the raw molecule that converts to THC after heating. CBGA is called the “mother of all cannabinoids” since through the process of biosynthesis, the cannabis plant produces CBGA. As the cannabis plant goes through its maturation process, CBGA is exposed to different enzymes that convert the compound into either the aforementioned THCA, the above CBDA, or CBCA. After being harvested, the plant is heated and the remaining CBGA becomes CBG.
The lab tests performed in Oregon demonstrated that both CBGA and CBDA were able to prevent infection of human epithelial cells by the coronavirus spike protein and prevented entry of them into the cells.
Importantly, because current vaccination strategies rely solely on the original spike protein of “Wuhan” origin strain as an antigen, prevention strategies are left playing catch up to new variants. The more patients infected, the more the likelihood of a new variant. New variants can veer further and further away from the ancestral strain – and, thus, the composition of the spike protein. This renders the vaccine as a transmission blocker less effective with every variant.
Data from Oregon, however, showed “minimal impact of the variant lineages on the effectiveness of CBDA and CBGA, a trend that will hopefully extend to other existing and future variants.”
Due to the primary binding site for CBGA being allosteric (the binding of an effector molecule at a specific site), “there may even be reduced evolutionary pressure for SARS-CoV-2 to mutate their binding sites compared to the orthosteric binding sites typically favored by neutralizing antibodies.”
Importantly, the data showed that CBDA and CBGA are effective against two more recent variants – including B.1.1.7 (Alpha), and B.1.351 (Beta.) These variants are known for evading neutralizing antibodies.
Both CBDA and CBGA are not controlled substances as they do not contain THC – the psychoactive ingredient found in the marijuana plant. This is important as the study found that when combining THC with both CBDA and CBGA – both compounds were not able to prevent the virus from entering the cells.
Though more research is needed and the researchers are quick to point out this was in vitro – and not in vivo – IE in live human trials, the creation of CBD therapeutics may be viable solutions for COVID-19 patients.
While information surrounding the novel virus is still evolving and changing, it’s been shown that even mild infections can cause long-term Covid symptoms and reduced cognition. Avoiding infection altogether is still the optimum choice when it comes to ‘living with Covid’. If CBD cannabinoids can prevent infection in the first place, further research and discussion should be prioritized.
