As thousands upon thousands of people test positive for the novel coronavirus, with many ending up in the hospital, the rush is on to find potential treatments for the virus.
Cannabis may be one potential treatment to combating COVID-19.
Researchers are exploring to see if cannabis or cannabis derived CBD might offer benefits for those suffering from severe forms of this infection.
Several different ways researchers have suggested CBD might help to fight the infection include its ability to reduce ACE2 expression and pro-inflammatory cytokine production to fight lung inflammation, and it’s potential as an antiviral.
A recent study from researchers at Augusta University in Georgia suggests that CBD may positively impact ARDS or acute respiratory distress syndrome. This is a dangerous symptom in COVID-19 caused by an overactive inflammatory response. It is also referred to as a ‘cytokine storm’.
According to the study’s authors, “currently, other than supportive measures, there is no definitive cure for ARDS, illustrating the urgent need for creative and effective therapeutic modalities to treat this complex condition.”
The researchers suggest CBD may be able to help by reducing pro-inflammatory cytokine production. Reducing specific cytokines such as interleukin (IL)-6, IL-1b, and IL-17, may help to bring down the inflammation and thus end the respiratory distress and damage.
Research was performed on mice, who were first given a treatment called Poly(I:C) to artificially induce ARDS, with symptoms similar to what we see in severe COVID-19 patients. This created a cytokine storm, reduced the blood oxygen saturation by 10%, and even produced structural damages to the lungs in mice subjects.
After the mice were experiencing the cytokine storm and coinciding respiratory distress, they were given CBD.
“These symptoms were totally or partially reversed and returned to the level and condition of the normal after treatment with CBD” the authors report.
The mice treated with CBD saw reduced expression of IL-6. The Poly:(I:C) increased inflammatory markers, “CBD treatment reversed all these inflammatory indices and partially re-established homeostasis” the authors said.
Mice treated with CBD also had increases in lymphocyte levels in their blood which can help fight off infections.
“The current data support the notion that the anti-inflammatory function of CBD may reduce cytokine storm and mitigate the effects of exaggerated inflammation” said the researchers.
