Could cannabis help against Covid infections?
In a utopian world we would all heal through cannabis. In the scientific world, there might be a way for cannabis to help with the current pandemic! This promising statement is backed up by science.
Earlier this week, a study by researchers from two universities in Oregon was published on the Journal of Natural Products. This is a peer-reviewed scientific journal that screens researches on the chemistry and biochemistry of naturally occurring compounds.
The study, titled Cannabinoids Block Cellular Entry of SARS-CoV-2 and the Emerging Variants, has shown that two naturally occurring compounds in hemp varietals of cannabis can prevent SARS-CoV-2 from causing Covid-19 infections. This findings also leave a door open to a potential treatment for Covid-19.
These cannabis compounds prevent the virus from penetrating healthy human cells by binding to the spike protein of SARS-CoV-2 that causes infection. And who are these winners? The answer is CBDA and CBGA.
What are CBDA and CBGA?
The coordinator of this study, Richard van Breemen, said that these compounds abundant in hemp and in many hemp extracts, are not controlled substances like THC and have been proven to be safe for humans. These are non-psychoactive compounds.
CBDA
Cannabidiolic acid or CBDA is the raw form of CBD. Once CBDA has gone through heat or sunlight in a process called decarboxylation, it becomes CBD. The CBD frenzy has masked this phytocannabinoid, but its anti-inflammatory, anti-emetic, anti-convulsant, and anti-cancerogenic properties are being studied as well. CBDA works on the serotonin receptors and it can be more effective than CBD to prevent convulsions.
CBGA
Cannabigerol acid or CBGA is a phytocannabinoid that turns into THCA, CBCA or CBDA (the precursors of THC, CBC, CBD). This is why CBGA is commonly known as “the mothership” of phytocannabinoids and CBG -decarboxylated CBGA- “the mother cannabinoid”. CBGA can have anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, and might also help in the treatment of diabetes and the regulation of metabolism.
Van Breemen stated that these compounds are safe for humans and that they have shown to be effective against new variants of the virus. Once again, cannabis news are giving us hope!
