Broad-spectrum antiviral effect of cannabidiol against enveloped and non-enveloped viruses

MARQUEZ AB; VICENTE J; CASTRO E; VOTA D; VARELA M; LANZA CASTRONUOVO PA; FUENTES G; PARISE A; ROMORINI L; ALVAREZ D; BUENO C; RAMÍREZ C; ALAIMO A; GARCIA CC

Cannabis and Cannabinoid Research

Mary Ann Liebert, Inc., publishers

Lugar: New York; Año: 2023

2578-5125

Cannabidiol (CBD), the main non-psychoactive cannabinoid of the Cannabis sativa plant, is a powerful antioxidant compound that has attracted more attention in recent years due to its effects on a variety of biological functions. Zika virus (ZIKV) is a virus transmitted mainly by the Aedes aegypti mosquitoes, which causes severe neurological diseases, such as microcephaly and Guillain-Barre syndrome, mainly in fetuses and newborns. Although the frequency of viral outbreaks hasincreased recently, no vaccinations or particular chemotherapeutic treatments are available for ZIKV infection. Here, we report that CBD inhibits the replication of Zika virus and other arboviruses with major epidemiological significance such as dengue and chikungunya. Furthermore, we present encouraging findings that outline a potential mechanism of action for CBD´s antiviral efficacy against ZIKV. We etermined that CBD affects cellular membranes and, in particular, lowers intracellular cholesterol levels, thus affecting ZIKV viral replication. Finally, we demonstrate that CBD inhibits structurally dissimilar viruses, suggesting that this phytochemical has broadspectrum antiviral effect, representing a valuable alternative in emergency situations during viral outbreaks, like the one caused by SARS-CoV-2 in 2019