Antiviral activities of hemp cannabinoids

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Hemp is an understudied source of pharmacologically active compounds and many unique plant secondary metabolites including more than 100 cannabinoids. After years of legal restriction, research on hemp has recently demonstrated antiviral activities in silico, in vitro, and in vivo for cannabidiol (CBD), Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (Δ9-THC), cannabidiolic acid (CBDA), cannabigerolic acid (CBGA), and several other cannabinoids against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2), human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), and γ-herpes viruses. Mechanisms of action include inhibition of viral cell entry, inhibition of viral proteases, and stimulation of cellular innate immune responses. The anti-inflammatory properties of cannabinoids are also under investigation for mitigating the cytokine storm of COVID-19 and controlling chronic inflammation in people living with HIV. Retrospective clinical studies support antiviral activities of CBD, Δ9-THC, and cannabinoid mixtures as do some prospective clinical trials, but appropriately designed clinical trials of safety and efficacy of antiviral cannabinoids are urgently needed.

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Medical, therapeutic, and recreational use of cannabis among young men who have sex with men living with HIV

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Cannabis plays a role in symptoms management in HIV, especially the alleviation of pain and nausea and stimulation of appetite, and prevalence of cannabis use in HIV-positive populations exceeds that of the general U.S. population. Previous research has described an “overlap” between medical and recreational cannabis use among persons living with HIV. To understand better the motives associated cannabis use among young men who have sex with men living with HIV (HIV+ YMSM), we conducted semi-structured interviews with 30 HIV+YMSM in Denver and Chicago.

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Daily Cannabis Use is Associated With Lower CNS Inflammation in People With HIV

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Recent cannabis exposure has been associated with lower rates of neurocognitive impairment in people with HIV (PWH). Cannabis’s anti-inflammatory properties may underlie this relationship by reducing chronic neuroinflammation in PWH. This study examined relations between cannabis use and inflammatory biomarkers in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and plasma, and cognitive correlates of these biomarkers within a community-based sample of PWH.

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The effects of cannabinoids on the pharmacokinetics of indinavir and nelfinavir

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Cannabinoids, including smoked marijuana and delta9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) (dronabinol, Marinol), have been used to treat human immunodeficiency virus-1 (HIV)-associated anorexia and weight loss. Concerns have been raised, however, that these compounds might have adverse effects on the immune system of subjects with HIV infection.

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Short-term effects of cannabinoids on immune phenotype and function in HIV-1-infected patients

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Cannabinoids, including smoked marijuana and delta9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) (dronabinol, Marinol), have been used to treat human immunodeficiency virus-1 (HIV)-associated anorexia and weight loss. Concerns have been raised, however, that these compounds might have adverse effects on the immune system of subjects with HIV infection.

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Short-term effects of cannabinoids in patients with HIV-1 infection: a randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trial

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Cannabinoid use could potentially alter HIV RNA levels by two mechanisms: immune modulation or cannabinoid-protease inhibitor interactions (because both share cytochrome P-450 metabolic pathways).

Objective: To determine the short-term effects of smoked marijuana on the viral load in HIV-infected patients.

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Cannabis in painful HIV-associated sensory neuropathy: a randomized placebo-controlled trial

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Aim: To determine the effect of smoked cannabis on the neuropathic pain of HIV-associated sensory neuropathy and an experimental pain model.

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Cannabidiol for Viral Diseases: Hype or Hope?

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Authors: Alex Mabou Tagne, Barbara Pacchetti, Mikael Sodergren, Marco Cosentino, and Franca Marino Published in Mary Ann Liebert, Inc Publishers June 2020 Abstract Background: The possibility of cannabidiol (CBD) to be…

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Cannabinoid receptor 2-mediated attenuation of CXCR4-tropic HIV infection in primary CD4+ T cells.

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Authors: Cristina Maria Costantino, Achla Gupta, Alice W. Yewdall, Benjamin M. Dale, et al
PLoS One, 2012
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Agents that activate cannabinoid receptor pathways have been tested as treatments for cachexia, nausea or neuropathic pain in HIV-1/AIDS patients. The cannabinoid receptors (CB(1)R and CB(2)R) and the HIV-1 co-receptors, CCR5 and CXCR4, all signal via Gαi-coupled pathways. We…

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