ANTIVIRAL POTENTIAL OF CANNABIS-DERIVED COMPOUNDS

Savva, Afroditi and Munir, Muhammad and Wright, Karen (2025) ANTIVIRAL POTENTIAL OF CANNABIS-DERIVED COMPOUNDS. Masters thesis, Lancaster University.

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Abstract

Cannabis-derived compounds show promise as antiviral agents, offering an innovative approach to facing growing viral resistance to existing therapies. Cannabinoids demonstrate immunomodulatory and anti-inflammatory effects, suggesting further effectiveness in inhibiting viral replication. Therefore, their bioactivity suggests the prospect of enhancing current antiviral treatments. This project focused on addressing current gaps in understanding the mechanisms of cannabinoids, terpenes, and flavonoids, including the optimal dosage and potential efficacy of compound combinations against the Influenza A virus in vitro. The aim was to screen a range of these promising compounds for their ability to inhibit the virus. A549 and MDCK cells were cultured and passaged for cell viability and antiviral plaque assays. Cell viability and cytotoxicity were assessed after 24-hour cannabinoid pre-treatment, using PrestoBlue™ and CytoTox-Glo™ assays, and IC50 values were determined. The cytotoxicity of ethanol and methanol vehicles was also evaluated. Influenza A H1N1/PR8 was inoculated in chicken embryonated eggs and propagated in MDCK cells. The antiviral activity was assessed by plaque assay. The viral plaque areas were quantified using ImageJ software. The research shortlisted two compounds that demonstrate the most potent antiviral activity against H1N1. Furthermore, the results provided foundational information for the development of drug testing portfolios for future pre-clinical evaluation. According to the antiviral plaque assay results, 5.93 μM CBG and 3.13 μM CBD reduced viral load by approximately 85% and 75%, respectively, and appeared to be the most effective among the compounds. Sesquiterpenes with a concentration of 425 mg/mL also reduced the viral load, with an increased plaque size compared to the control. The results support a strong antiviral potential for CBG and CBD, which could be of clinical significance in the treatment of Influenza virus infections. Further investigation is required to assess the specific antiviral effects of these compounds down to a molecular level, as well as their longevity, potential compound combinations, and antiviral potential against other respiratory viruses.