Research from the University of Queensland has
discovered antibacterial properties in CBD, which,
scientists say, has the potential to treat MRSA and
staphylococcus in the future.
Outlining the findings, the Australian research team
confirmed, “Cannabidiol possesses surprisingly effective
activity as an antibiotic, compared to widely used
antibiotics.”
The study was led by Dr Mark Blaskovich at the Institute
for Molecular Bioscience’s Centre for Superbug Solutions,
and was co-funded by an Australian government grant
scheme and CBD company Botanix Pharmaceuticals Ltd.
SO, HOW DOES IT WORK?
CBD contains antioxidant and anti-inflammatory
properties. This we already knew. Now thanks to this
fresh research, the possible antibacterial properties of our
favourite cannabinoid can be explored further.
This research suggests that the anti-inflammatory and
antibiotic properties found in CBD work as a team when
fighting bacterial infections: “The combination of inherent
anti-microbial activity and potential to reduce damage
caused by the inflammatory response to infections is
particularly attractive.”
This is because this research has displayed CBD’s potential
to treat different aspects of the same infection, with just
one form of medication.
Bacteria kill-time, resistance induction and the effectivity
of biofilm disruption, which is designed to make cell
penetration more difficult, of a synthetic cannabinoid were
all investigated. According to the researchers, synthetic
CBD was used for this study due to its purity. (Synthetic
CBD has no trace amounts of other cannabinoids, solvents
as a result of extraction or compounds found naturally
occurring within plant extracts, that could mislead results
in biological testing.)
The results showed the CBD compound disrupted the
biofilm layer around bacteria, killing it rapidly, as well as
proving impressive resistance rates.
“Given
cannabidiol’s
documented anti-
inflammatory effects … it is
a promising new antibiotic
worth further investigation.”
WHY IS THIS IMPORTANT?
The research was presented by Dr Blaskovich at the
annual meeting of The American Society of Microbiology.
Subsequently, a press release detailed: “The drug retained
its activity against bacteria that have become highly
resistant to other common antibiotics. Under extended
exposure conditions that lead to resistance against
vancomycin or daptomycin, cannabidiol did not lose
effectiveness.”
Vancomycin is commonly prescribed medication used to
treat staphylococcus. However, with 50,000 staphylococcus
associated deaths each year in the US alone, new
developments in treatment are urgently needed.
Dr Blaskovish added: “Given cannabidiol’s documented
anti-inflammatory effects, existing safety data in humans
and potential for varied delivery routes, it is a promising
new antibiotic worth further investigation.”
So far, this study has only been carried out in the lab, where
mice tissue was analysed in petri dishes. So it is important
to stress that people should not self-medicate to treat
infections using CBD. While the promise in CBD-related
science may show encouraging signs, always discuss your
intake of CBD with your doctor, especially if you are taking
other medications.
The study tested the response of CBD to infections
compared with established antibiotics and found that the
plant extract can target and kill harmful bacteria rapidly.