Cannabis Compound could cure the Common Superbug

Posted by Emily Ledger on February 24th, 2020

Over the years, scientists are have been making efforts to protect us from bacterial strains that continue to evolve even today. Bacteria are now resistant to a broad spectrum of antibiotics that new protective ways need to be explored. A few bacterial strains have attained advanced stage and it seems difficult to fight against them.

These bacterial strains are the 'superbugs', which require a quick solution. The antibiotics formula present in our hospitals currently doesn't match with the rate of resistance developed by these superbugs. Meanwhile, cannabis compound has been found to potentially wipe out drug-resistant bacteria as a ray of hope to fight against superbugs.

Cannabis Compound as a Superbug Fighter

Since decades, extracts of the Cannabis plant have come into use for several purposes. The medical conditions treated by cannabis are verified and accepted by many researchers and scientists. Today, the significant herbaceous species of the cannabis plant is used to cure common superbug.

Since compounds of cannabis were found with the potential to fight antibiotic-resistant bacteria, experts extended their researches. The scientists tested further on different cannabis compounds to analyse antibiotic effects. During the lab tests, one of the most positive reactions between Cannabigerol (CBG) and Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus Aureus (MRSA) was discovered.

MRSA is one of the most common antibiotic-resistant superbugs bugs found in hospitals. When antibiotics like oxacillin, daptomycin and vancomycin failed, cannabigerol rapidly and effectively decimated the deadly superbug. For further research on CBG, scientists also tested on MRSA-infected mice. Thereafter, it was discovered that these cannabis compounds were effective in treating severe infection.

In a nutshell, researchers observed the effect of cannabis compounds as follows:

•          According to the studies, cannabis compounds eradicated a significant number of MRSA microbes.
•          The non-psychoactive compound also killed ‘persistor’ cells that caused infections repetitively. These persistor cells were also resistant to antibiotics.
•          Cannabigerol killed MRSA microfilm, which frequently persists on the skin and medical implants.
•          Compounds of cannabis plants are believed to fight invading pathogens and bacteria.

Hence, cannabinoid compounds were found to have hidden antibiotic properties. These antibiotic potentials of the cannabis could kill or slow bacterial growth, reduce inflammation, inhibit cell growth in tumour/cancer cells, and promote bone growth. Even after all tests and outcomes, scientists admit that there is a lot more to explore on the potential of cannabinoids in the future.

About the Author:

Emily Ledger is a journalism graduate from Sheffield Hallam University, where she specialised in feature and magazine writing. Following graduation, she volunteered at local publishing company RMC Media, where she contributed to both content writing and magazine layout design. Emily now works at a Sheffield and London-based digital marketing company, Omni, writing content for a unique news website. The website, The Cannabis Exchange (Canex) is the #1 CBD news website in the UK.