Anti-Inflammatory and Antiviral Effects of Cannabinoids in Inhibiting and Preventing SARS-CoV-2 Infection

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus made it necessary to search for new options for both causal treatment and mitigation of its symptoms. Scientists and researchers around the world are constantly looking for the best therapeutic options. These difficult circumstances have also spurred the re-examination of the potential of natural substances contained in Cannabis sativa L. Cannabinoids, apart from CB1 and CB2 receptors, may act multifacetedly through a number of other receptors, such as the GPR55, TRPV1, PPARs, 5-HT1A, adenosine and glycine receptors. The complex anti-inflammatory and antiviral effects of cannabinoids have been confirmed by interactions with various signaling pathways. Considering the fact that the SARS-CoV-2 virus causes excessive immune response and triggers an inflammatory cascade, and that cannabinoids have the ability to regulate these processes, it can be assumed that they have potential to be used in the treatment of COVID-19. During the pandemic, there were many publications on the subject of COVID-19, which indicate the potential impact of cannabinoids not only on the course of the disease, but also their role in prevention. It is worth noting that the anti-inflammatory and antiviral potential are shown not only by well-known cannabinoids, such as cannabidiol (CBD), but also secondary cannabinoids, such as cannabigerolic acid (CBGA) and terpenes, emphasizing the role of all of the plant’s compounds and the entourage effect. This article presents a narrative review of the current knowledge in this area available in the PubMed, Scopus and Web of Science medical databases.

The Prevalence of Dietary Supplement Use for the Purpose of COVID-19 Prevention in Japan

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“…The authors conclude that a combination of CBDA and CBGA may represent a greater adjunctive challenge to SARS-CoV-2 spread. Recent reviews of the cannabis-related, SARS-CoV-2-specific literature, which accentuate the need for further research including clinical trials, are available [ 15 , 73 , 74 ].…”

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“…Endocannabinoid signalling, essential for stress adaptation, can become unbalanced and decreased if exposed to severe external stressors, leading to the development of anxiety and depression [99]. Stress, as an important source of anxiety, is related to the imbalance within the serotoninergic, glutamatergic Agata Lewandowska, Michał Graczyk, Ten reasons to consider cannabinoids in everyday clinical practice and GABA-ergic systems, as well as pro-oxidant events in the CNS [9,100].…”