Research from Oregon State University (OSU) has identified two hemp compounds – cannabinoid acids – that are capable of preventing SARS-CoV-2 from entering human cells. Many of the extracts and compounds from hemp, whose scientific name is Cannabis sativa, are added to cosmetics, dietary supplements, or foods.
The researchers discovered that cannabigerolic acid (CBGA) and cannabidiolic acid (CBDA) bind to the spike protein of SARS-CoV-2 and block a key step in the process the virus uses to infect people, preventing it from entering in the cells. Precisely the spike protein of SARS-CoV-2 is the target of vaccines and antibody therapy.
“These cannabinoid acids are abundant in hemp and in many hemp extracts,” explained Richard van Breemen, a researcher at the Oregon State Global Hemp Innovation Center, School of Pharmacy, and the Linus Pauling Institute. “They are not controlled substances like THC, the psychoactive ingredient in marijuana, and they have a good safety profile in humans. And our research showed that hemp compounds were equally effective against SARS-CoV-2 variants, including the B.1.1.7 variant, which was first detected in the UK, and the B.1.351 variant, detected for the first time in South Africa.
“Hemp acids could be used to prevent SARS-CoV-2 infection and also to shorten infections by preventing virus particles from infecting human cells”
“Any part of the cycle of infection and replication is a potential target for antiviral intervention, and the connection of the receptor binding domain of the spike protein to the human cell surface ACE2 receptor is a critical step in that cycle.” expert-. “That means that cell entry inhibitors, such as hemp acids, 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 spike proteins so those proteins can’t bind to the enzyme ACE2, which is abundant on the outer membrane of endothelial cells in the lungs and other organs.”
CBDA and CBGA are effective against alpha and beta variants
In fact, it had already been proven that using compounds that block the virus-receptor interaction has been effective in patients with other viral infections such as HIV-1 and hepatitis. In this case, the study authors identified the two cannabinoid acids using a mass spectrometry-based technique developed in van Breemen’s lab that tested various botanicals used as dietary supplements, including red clover, wild yam, hops and three species of liquorice.
“The two cannabinoids with the highest affinities for the spike protein were CBDA and CGBA, and they were confirmed to block infection”
The results of the work, which have been published in the Journal of Natural Products, showed that cannabigerolic acid and cannabidiolic acid prevented the infection of human epithelial cells by the spike protein of the coronavirus and prevented the entry of SARS-CoV-2 into the cells. “We identified several cannabinoid ligands and classified them by affinity for the spike protein,” van Breemen said. “The two cannabinoids with the highest affinities for the spike protein were CBDA and CGBA, and they were confirmed to block infection.”
“These compounds can be taken orally and have a long history of safe use in humans,” van Breemen said. “They have the potential to prevent and treat SARS-CoV-2 infection. CBDA and CBGA are produced by the hemp plant as precursors to CBD and CBG, which are familiar to many consumers. However, they are different from acids and are not contained in hemp products.”
“A major concern in the pandemic is the spread of variants, of which there are many, and B.1.1.7 (alpha) and B.1.351 (beta) are among the most widespread and of concern,” he added. “These variants are well known to evade early lineage SARS-CoV-2 antibodies, which is obviously of concern given that current vaccination strategies rely on early lineage spike protein as the antigen. Our data shows that CBDA and CBGA are effective against the two variants we tested and we expect the trend to extend to other existing and future variants.”
While Van Breemen acknowledges that resistant coronavirus variants could still emerge amid widespread use of cannabinoids, he says combining vaccines and CBDA/CBGA treatment should create a much more challenging environment for SARS-CoV-2.
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