Cannabidiol (CBD)
Fungus responsible for brain infections capable of leading to death was quickly locked by compounds of Cannabis sativa. Study took the opportunity to prove the effectiveness of CBD in the treatment of diseases such as athlete’s foot and ringworm.
Cannabis has compounds that can offer us a revolutionary response in combating one of the most dangerous pathogenic fungi in the world.
The conclusion is from a new study, which shows how much used in medicine in various parts of the world, but also cannabidivarin (CBDV) – both derived from Cannabis sativa – They are able to effectively eliminate the fungus responsible for brain infections capable of leading to death.
O C. neoformans It is known for causing cryptococcosis e cryptococcal meningitisdiseases that can be fatal when the fungus reaches the central nervous system. The mortality rate is “very high and the disease is extremely difficult to treat,” he explained to Hue DinhBiologist at Macquarie University and main author of the study carried out by Australian researchers.
At the moment, More than 300 species Known of pathogenic fungi are known to cause disease in humans. With the growing resistance of these species to antifungal drugs in the market, researchers began to seek to reuse substances already approved for other medicinal purposes, such as can compound cannabis – CBD is legal and marketed in Portugal, for example.
In this study, Dinh and the team crook to five cannabis compounds to test their effects on the C. neoformans and other common pathogenic fungi. The most promising results came from CBD and CBDV: not only quickly eliminated the C. neoformansas they were also more effective than conventional antifungals. Also demonstrated effectiveness against the fungi responsible for common skin infections, such as the athlete’s foot and groin ringworm.
The proteoic analysis carried out by the investigators revealed that these compounds cause multiple disturbances in fungi. Mechanisms include destabilization of cell membranes, alteration of ergosterol biosynthesis (essential component of fungal membranes), interruption of metabolic pathways and selective involvement of proteins associated with mitochondria.
To verify that the observed effects in the laboratory were replicated in a living organism, scientists used the wax larva (Galleria mellonella), a model frequently used due to its mammal -like immune response. The larvae were subjected to small burns and infected with C. neoformansthen treated with CBD, a CBD control solution, or amphotericin B, a widely used antifungal.
The results were notable, according to the scientists: the larvae treated with CBD presented a Significantly higher survival rate than groups treated with control solution or amphotericin B. Indeed, the survival rate was almost as high as the uninfected group.
Although the study at PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases has centered on topical application, the results suggest a strong potential for the use of CBD in the treatment of fungal skin infections.
