Cannabinoids Block Cellular Entry of SARS-CoV-2 and the Emerging Variants

[mre]

Cannabinoids Block Cellular Entry of SARS-CoV-2 and the Emerging Variants
Richard B. van Breemen*, Ruth N. Muchiri, Timothy A. Bates, Jules B. Weinstein, Hans C. Leier, Scotland Farley, and Fikadu G. Tafesse

Publication Date:January 10, 2022
https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.jnatprod.1c00946
© 2022 American Chemical Society and American Society of Pharmacognosy

https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acs.jnatprod.1c00946
link to PDF:
https://pubs.acs.org/doi/pdf/10.1021/acs.jnatprod.1c00946

Abstract
As a complement to vaccines, small-molecule therapeutic agents are needed to treat or prevent infections by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) and its variants, which cause COVID-19. Affinity selection–mass spectrometry was used for the discovery of botanical ligands to the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein. Cannabinoid acids from hemp (Cannabis sativa) were found to be allosteric as well as orthosteric ligands with micromolar affinity for the spike protein. In follow-up virus neutralization assays, cannabigerolic acid and cannabidiolic acid prevented infection of human epithelial cells by a pseudovirus expressing the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein and prevented entry of live SARS-CoV-2 into cells. Importantly, cannabigerolic acid and cannabidiolic acid were equally effective against the SARS-CoV-2 alpha variant B.1.1.7 and the beta variant B.1.351. Orally bioavailable and with a long history of safe human use, these cannabinoids, isolated or in hemp extracts, have the potential to prevent as well as treat infection by SARS-CoV-2.

 

[180]

Yeah, I saw this reported; thanks [MENTION=72]mre[/MENTION]!

The only problem with this is, I don't think the inhalation route is the means of delivery; I think they used orally-administered extracts. Still pretty exciting though.

 

[mre]

Agree [MENTION=3834]180[/MENTION], this was actually all in "test tubes" as I understand, no animals or humans involved, simply showing efficacy of the cannabinoid compounds.

Great press for Cannabis in general, adding legitimacy to the industry. Perhaps a notable aspect, is the science behind the cannabanoids and their interaction with cellular mechanisms.

This demonstrates more generally the potential of cannabis research and development in a clinical pharmacology context, using existing tools and methods for discovery and analysis. Nice that it's not some meta-study or retroactive analysis of a population segment, but bringing it right into the laboratory.

Point is, this sort of work helps grease the skids for the pharmacology side of the industry.
Now is that "good" or "bad", well...