Hemp CBDA and CBGA block cellular entry of SARS-CoV-2 and other variants

CBDA (cannabidiolic acid) and CBGA (cannabigerolic acid), two cannabinoids present in industrial hemp flowers, block the cellular entry of SARS-CoV-2 and the emerging variants, reveals a study da Oregon State University, in the United States of America (USA), led by the researcher Richard van Breemen. The results of this pre-clinical investigation (only done in the laboratory and not with humans) were published this week in PubMed and ACS – Chemistry for Life and confirm that the two cannabinoids in acidic form (found in the raw flowers of the plant) bind to the Spike protein, preventing the Covid virus from penetrating the cells. 

The news is reaching the media mainstream, as Forbes or Public, and reports the benefits of cannabinoids in the disease caused by SARS-CoV-2, already advanced in a investigation carried out by Cannareporter precisely one year ago, in January 2021.

The research team led by van Breemen, PhD professor and principal investigator at the Faculty of Pharmacy and the Global Hemp Innovation Center from the University, discovered that CBDA and CBGA, two components of hemp, one of the Cannabis sativa low in THC (tetrahydrocannabinol)), can bind to the “peaks” present in the protein spike of SARS-CoV-2, preventing the virus from penetrating cells.

According to Richard van Breemen, “These acidic cannabinoids are abundant in hemp and many hemp extracts”, explained the professor in the University communiqué, who released your extensive work. Van Breemen further pointed out that these cannabinoids "can be ingested orally" and "have a good safety profile" in humans. “This means that substances that inhibit the entry of the virus into cells, such as hemp acids, could be used to prevent a SARS-CoV-2 infection”, explains the researcher.

Hemp is also effective in other variants such as Alpha and Beta
In addition to these results, hemp components also proved to be effective against other variants of the coronavirus. “Our investigation showed that hemp components were equally effective against variants of SARS-CoV-2, including variant B.1.1.7, which was first detected in the UK, and variant B.1.351, which was detected for the first time in South Africa”, said Van Breemen, citing the two variants, Alpha and Beta, respectively.

Cannareporter has sent questions to researcher Richard van Breemen and will publish an interview with the researcher once it has the answers.