Researchers at Oregon State University identified a pair of cannabinoid acids that bind to the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein, blocking a critical step in the process the virus uses to infect people, Daily Mail reported.
The team found the cannabis compounds, which can be taken orally and are abundantly found in hemp, blocked the alpha and beta variants from infecting the human cells – but the team notes those are the only two variants studied in this research.
Richard van Breemen, a researcher with Oregon State’s Global Hemp Innovation Center and study lead, said in a statement(LINK): ‘These cannabinoid acids are abundant in hemp and in many hemp extracts.
‘They are not controlled substances like THC, 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.’
