CBD reduces COVID-19 lung damage with protective peptides
In a new study, scientists have shown that one of the non-psychoactive cannabinoids in cannabis – CBD – reduces lung damage induced by cytokine storms caused by COVID-19 through enabling an increase in levels of a natural peptide.
The scientists, from the Dental College of Georgia (DCG) and the Medical College of Georgia, demonstrated earlier this year that CBD has the ability to improve oxygen levels and reduce inflammation and physical lung damage related to Adult Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS). This new study has now shown the mechanisms behind these results, demonstrating that CBD normalises levels of a peptide named apelin, which is known to reduce inflammation. Levels of this peptide are low during a COVID-19 infection.
While the researchers say the peptide clearly has an important role to play, they do not attribute all CBD’s benefits to apelin. The results have been published in the Journal of Cellular and Molecular Medicine.
