Cannabis Provides Antiviral and Antibacterial Qualities

The coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has brought to light the worldwide need for new methods of stopping pathogens, such as viruses and bacteria.

Researchers across the globe are finding that cannabis offers multiple ways to fight against viruses and bacteria.

Terpenes, which can be found in cannabis and other plants, have shown antiviral activity against HSV-1 (herpes simplex virus) and coronavirus, according to a study in the National Library of Medicine.

Professor Dedi Meiri of the Israel Institute of Technology said, “First, we will try to identify the plant’s (cannabis) own molecules that are capable of suppressing the immune response to the COVID-19 coronavirus – which causes inflammation and severe disease – to lower the immune system response without suppressing it, thereby providing better complementary treatment to the steroids, which completely suppress the immune system.”

Meiri also found success via a formulation that combines CBD and terpenes.

In Australia, Botanix Pharmaceuticals created a synthetic cannabinoid proven effective against both staphylococcus (staph) and methicillin-resistant staph Aureus (MRSA).

stdDAO, a new decentralized autonomous organization (DAO), is leveraging blockchain technology to crowdfund donations via cryptocurrency that will be used to fund scientists and companies working on innovative cures for viruses and bacteria that cause sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). Cannabis is one of those innovative methods being studied to cure certain STDs.

American Chemical Society is also focusing on cannabis. The ACS noted that “researchers tested the antibacterial activity of 18 cannabis-derived molecules, including cannabidiol (CBD), tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and CBG, against MRSA. They also tested the ability of these substances to prevent the formation of biofilms on surfaces and to kill dormant ‘persistor’ MRSA that are highly resistant to antibiotics. CBG performed the best in these tests, so the researchers chose to study it further.”

Cannabis is “promising, and the growing body of research suggests certain compounds in cannabis have antiviral, antibacterial and anti-inflammatory effects that could be helpful tools in the arsenal against COVID,” according to a research scientist at the Southwest College of Naturopathic Medicine in Tempe, Arizona.