A study done at Oregon State University has found that certain Hemp compounds have the potential to stop Covid-19 from entering human cells.

The study, which was released on Monday, found that two cannabinoid acids can bind to the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein, and the bind works to block a step that allows the virus to infect people. It was discovered by Richard van Breemen, a researcher with Oregon State's Global Hemp Innovation Center in the College of Pharmacy and a collaboration of scientists from the Oregon Health & Science University.

“These cannabinoid acids are abundant in hemp and in many hemp extracts,” Breemen said in a statement released by OSU.

The compounds are known as Cannabigerolic acid or CBGA and Cannabidiolic acid, or CBDA.

“They are not controlled substances like THC, the psychoactive ingredient in marijuana, and have a good safety profile in humans. And our research showed the hemp compounds were equally effective against variants of SARS-CoV-2, including variant B.1.1.7, which was first detected in the United Kingdom, and variant B.1.351, first detected in South Africa,” Breemen added.

The researchers believe that their findings of the cannabinoids could have promising potential for preventing and treating Covid-19 due to it already being deemed safe for humans to use. They also explained that the use of hemp would work as a complement to the vaccine.

“Orally bioavailable and with a long history of safe human use, these cannabinoids, isolated or in hemp extracts, have the potential to prevent as well as treat infection by SARS-CoV-2,” the researchers wrote in the study.

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