Hey folks! I’m Nate, your Cannabis Nurse, letting you know about an intriguing new clinical study: cannabis compound CBD may potentially prevent and fight COVID-19.
In a world where we are constantly bombarded with negative rhetoric about the pandemic, it’s not uncommon to feel overwhelmed with information overload. I’d like to shed light (and maybe a glimmer of hope) on the subject from a fresh new angle.
Recently, The Journal of Natural Products published a study that identified two cannabinoids, known as cannabidiolic acid (CBDA) and cannabigerolic acid (CBGA), that may be beneficial in the fight against COVID-19.
These cannabinoids are derived from hemp – not marijuana. Smoking marijuana won’t protect you from the coronavirus, but the cannabis compound (if taken in the right way and at the right amount) might lessen the severity of COVID-19 and maybe even prevent the spread.
Research led by Richard van Breeman, Ph.D., Principal Investigator at Linus Pauling Institute and Professor of Pharmaceutical Sciences at Oregon State University, shows that the pair of cannabinoids bind to the spike protein on the virus, which inhibits a critical step needed for the virus to infect cells. The spike protein is the same drug target as COVID-19 vaccines and antibody therapy.
Van Breeman states, “That means cell entry inhibitors, like the acids from hemp, could be used to prevent SARS-CoV-2 infection and also to shorten infections by preventing virus particles from infecting human cells. They bind to the spike proteins so those proteins can’t bind to the ACE2 enzyme, which is abundant on the outer membrane of endothelial cells in the lungs and other organs.”
In my opinion, the research shows amazing potential for future application. However, it’s important to note that this research only looks at CBDA and CBGA and their effects against the alpha and beta variants of the virus. More research is needed to understand how the pair of cannabinoids work against other current variants, like delta and omicron.
What’s more, CBDA and CBGA might sound familiar, but they are not the same cannabinoids as the more popular CBD and CBG products that exist in many hemp products today. CBDA and CBGA are acidic precursor cannabinoids to CBD and CBG.
In our hemp business, Holistic Wellness Services, we have to convert precursor cannabinoids like CBDA and CBGA to CBD and CBG through a heating process in our lab. In short, when acidic precursor cannabinoids are heated for a certain time at a certain temperature, they lose the acidic part of the compound.
That’s all I have for you in this edition. If you have questions, please feel free to reach out to me via email at Nate@hwshemp.life. As well, check out our website at www.hwshemp.life to learn more about Holistic Wellness Services.
Enjoy reading this article? Read more from Nate Crotteau
