Hemp Extracts as Prevention Against COVID-19? (STUDY)
It will soon be a year since the first case of infection with a new type of coronavirus appeared in the Czech Republic, which is the COVID-19 disease. In connection with this, an enormous number of research studies are of course underway. Besides those examining conventional treatment methods, there are also studies focused on using natural substances in the fight against this insidious infectious disease.
Research Objective
One such study was conducted in Canada at the University of Lethbridge. It focuses on using new powerful extract types from Hemp Sativa plants. The purpose of this research was to determine whether substances in the extracts, and their effects, could reduce the number of coronavirus-infected cells, which often penetrate into the lungs and other vital organs where very severe acute inflammation develops.
For the study, the research team developed hundreds of new Hemp Sativa cultivars with very high CBD cannabinoid content. From the strongest, a total of 23 extracts were created, which the laboratory tested on 3D models of human respiratory and intestinal tissues. 13 extracts demonstrated certain effectiveness by reducing the expression of the ACE2 enzyme, which converts the angiotensin receptor when exposed to infection, thus greatly facilitating the passage of COVID-19 coronavirus into the organism.
"While our most effective extracts require further extensive validation, our study is important for future analyses of medicinal cannabis effects on COVID-19" writes Olga Kovalchuk, a team member.
Reducing ACE2 Enzyme Levels Could Be a Promising Prevention
It is important to note that the ACE2 receptor (enzyme) is completely normally present in every human body. According to research, the highest concentration is then in the lungs, oral cavity, nasal mucosa, kidneys, and gastrointestinal tract.
There are indeed a large number of these enzymes in the mouth, which could become an important target in preventing COVID-19. Studies with a slightly different focus, specifically on lower respiratory tract, demonstrated much higher infection susceptibility in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, with high ACE2 enzyme concentrations found in the lung area.
This led the research team to the hypothesis that reducing the levels of these ACE2 receptors in tissues could increase the body's resistance and make it more difficult for new coronavirus infections to penetrate.
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