Preliminary studies indicate that phytocannabinoids can be beneficial in fighting off COVID-19 virus infection, but in just petri dish cells or mice cells. New studies indicate that phytocannabinoids, such as CBD, in cannabis have properties that might aid cells in fighting off the infection. The studies have tested phytocannabinoids only on animal cells or cells in laboratory environments. It takes more research to prove that CBD for COVID-19 is effective for human beings.
As per a recent study featured in the peer-reviewed Journal of Natural Products, CBDA and CBGA from industrial hemp could keep the coronavirus spike protein from infecting lab dish cells. For your information, CBDA is cannabidiolic acid and CBGA is cannabigerolic acid.
A different study featured in the Science Advances journal indicates that cannabidiol inhibits the virus infection in mice and of cells. The researchers involved in the study feel that it happens as cannabidiol inhibits the expression of viral genes while boosting the immune response and stress response.
However, STAT reports that external experts claim that the journals occasionally report opposing effects on how phytocannabinoids interact with coronavirus. As for UCLA’s Cannabis Research Initiative director Ziva Cooper, those are only the basic pieces of information associated with how phytocannabinoids possibly interact with coronavirus. There is still a lot more to do about research on CBD and COVID-19, according to Cooper.
Manufacturers and sellers can gain from all the hype on cannabinoids without performing the required work for verifying the effects of the compounds in clinical tests. They can promote their items in the form of dietary supplements. The University of Chicago’s Marsha Rosner does not want individuals running out consuming random cannabinoids. For your information, Rosner is an author of the study featured in the journal Science Advances.
Another fascinating discovery from Rosner’s team is that the presence of THC counteracts the advantages of cannabidiol. THC stands for tetrahydrocannabinol, the compound responsible for marijuana’s high or euphoric effect. Rosner does not recommend heading out and purchasing cannabidiol to keep coronavirus disease from happening.
It is unclear how much cannabidiol would be required for it to work against coronavirus disease. Why? Because there have not yet been any clinical tests on the quantity of cannabidiol for coronavirus disease. Several CBD items available in the market do not correctly label the quantity of the compound that it contains.