A study points out that hemp compounds prevent the coronavirus from entering cells

Madrid, Jan 12.(Press Europa) -

An investigation of the State University of Oregon (United States) has identified hemp compounds that show the ability to prevent the virus that cause COVID-19 enter into human cells.

Hemp, scientifically known as 'cannabis sativa', is a fiber source, food and feed, and multiple extracts and hemp compounds to cosmetics, body lotions, dietary supplements and food are added.

In the study, published in the magazine 'Journal of Natural Products', they discovered that a pair of cannabinoid acids bind to the protein of the SARS-COV-2 spike, blocking a critical step in the process that the virus uses to infect to the people.

The compounds are cannabigerolic acid, or CBGA, and cannabidiolic acid, CBDA, and 'spike' protein is the same pharmacological target used in vaccines against COVID-19 and in antibody therapy.A pharmacological target is any critical molecule for the process that follows a disease, which means that its interruption can frustrate the infection or progression of the disease.

"These cannabinoid acids are abundant in hemp and in many hemp extracts.They are not controlled substances such as THC, the psychoactive ingredient of marijuana, and have a good humans in humans.And our research showed that hemp compounds were equally effective against the variants of the SARS-COV-2, including the ALFA, which was first detected in the United Kingdom, and the beta variant, first detected in South Africa, "Explains one of the study leaders, Richard Van Breemen.

Characterized by crown-shaped bumps on its outer surface, the SARS-COV-2 has RNA chains that encode its four main structural proteins -Spiga, wrap, membrane and nucleocapside-, as well as 16 non-structural proteins and several proteins'Accessories'.

"Any part of the infection and replication cycle is a potential objective for antiviral intervention, and the connection of the junction domain of the spike protein receptor with the Human cell surface ACE2 is a critical step in that cycle.That means that cell inhibitors, such as hemp acids, could be used to prevent SARS-COV-2 infection and also to shorten infections preventing virus particles from infecting human cells.They join the proteins of the spike so that they cannot join the enzyme Ace2, which abounds in the outer membrane of the endothelial cells of the lungs and other organs, "says the researcher.

The use of compounds that block virus-receiver interaction has been useful for patients with other viral infections, such as HIV-1 and hepatitis.

These researchers identified the two cannabinoid acids through a screening technique based on mass spectrometry invented in the Van Breemen laboratory.Van Breemen's equipment analyzed a series of botanical products used as dietary supplements, such as red clover, the wild yam, hops and three species of licorice.

In subsequent research, laboratory tests showed that cannabigerolic acid and cannabidiolic acid prevented the infection of human epithelial cells due to coronavirus spike protein and prevented the entry of SARS-COV-2 into cells in cells in cells.

"These compounds can be taken orally and have a long history of safe use in humans."They have the potential to prevent and treat SARS-COV-2 infection.The CBDA and the CBGA are produced by the hemp plant as precursors of the CBD and the CBG, which are known by many consumers.However, they are different from acids and are not contained in hemp products, "says Van Breemen.