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Oregon State University is saying compounds in hemp can prevent the seed of COVID-19 from infecting human cells. The institution’s revelations were published in the Journal of Natural Products.
The Global Hemp Innovation Center, part of the College of Pharmacy, and the Linus Pauling Institute were behind the study. Other collaborators include scientists at Oregon Health & Science University. The study attests, “Hemp, known scientifically as Cannabis sativa, is a source of fiber, food and animal feed, and multiple hemp extracts and compounds are added to cosmetics, body lotions, dietary supplements and food.”
The study revealed a pair of cannabinoid acids bound to the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein. The element was able to block a step in the virus process. These are CBA – cannabidiolic acids. The spike protein is similar to the “drug target” applied to COVID-19 vaccines and antibody therapy. A drug target is a molecule crucial to a disease’s production. The disruption thwarts the progression of disease and infection.
Richard van Breenan is a researcher with the Global Hemp Innovation Center and led Oregon State’s study. “These cannabinoid acids are abundant in hemp and in many hemp extracts,” van Breemen said. “They are not controlled substances like THC,” he says, “the psychoactive ingredient in marijuana, and have a good safety profile in humans. And our research showed the hemp 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, first detected in South Africa.”
With traits like crown-ish protrusions on the outer surface, SARS-CoV-2 has RNA strands. They encode the four structural proteins — envelope, spike, nucleocapsid, membrane — signs of 16 non-structural proteins and a number of “accessory” proteins.
The end belief is the acids from hemp may block SARS-CoV-2 infection. It could potentially shorten the infection process by minimizing the invasion of virus particles into human cells.
Research Van Breem says the compounds blocking virus-receptor interaction were helpful in patients with infections like hepatitis and HIV-1.
Precursors to CBD and CBG, compounds like CBDA and CBGA, produced from hemp plants, are already familiar to many consumers. However, they are not the same as those acids and are not found in hemp products. Still, the substances have a history of safe use in humans and can be received orally.
The study identified cannabinoid ligands — ligand: a molecule or atom capable of irreversibly binding to a receptor. The results got ranked by affinity to spike proteins. CBDA and CGBA had the highest affinities and were confirmed as infection blockers.
A primary concern from the pandemic is the fear of variants. Among the most widespread are the B.1.1.7 and B.1.351 strains. They evade antibodies against legacy SARS-CoV-2. But CBGA and CBDA are effective against those variants. The hope is to extend that finding to existing and future variants.
Resistant variants may still come out even with a widespread application of cannabinoids. But combining CBDA and CBGA treatments with vaccines will give SARS-CoV-2 and its kin a run for its money.
