Antibiotic resistance is one of the most daunting challenges facing humanity today. Antibiotic abundance in livestock, food, and a host of other sources has led to an antibiotic epidemic.
Most people don’t realize that the food industry is pumping their bodies with antibiotic strains that they’re likely to develop a resistance to due to overconsumption and misuse.
In recent decades, the preponderance of antibiotic-resistant bacteria like Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and Mycobacterium tuberculosis XDR-TB has risen significantly. Researchers have unveiled only one new class of antibacterial agents in the past thirty years to make matters worse.
Therefore, the need for exploring new antibacterial sources has become an urgent necessity. Plant-based phytochemicals have shown promise in this area. Cannabinoid compounds found in the cannabis plant, in particular, have shown the capacity to combat some concerning drug-resistant strains. Here’s what we know for now:
Cannabis and Antibiotic Resistance
Years of research have demonstrated how cannabis can act as an antibacterial agent. Many studies dating back to the 1950s have explored Cannabis Sativa’s ability to act as an antiseptic for skin conditions. However, preliminary studies failed to accurately lay down the plant’s physiology, due to which research stalled, and cannabis research never matured.
There were other problems, too. For example, some studies linked marijuana to adverse side effects, and marijuana abuse due to recreational and unregulated use contributed to an increase in infections.
One study found that C. Sativa compromises respiratory defense protocols by disrupting critical nitric oxide channels in the body. The plant interferes with pulmonary macrophages, which need an active supply of nitric oxide to sustain cytostatic oxidation of pathogenic agents, such as fungi, bacteria, and viruses. Some research has also associated marijuana abuse with immunosuppression.
So, if the whole plant is detrimental for combating pathogens, can its constituents provide antimicrobial resistance?
Research on C. Sativa and the Endocannabinoid System
The Endocannabinoid system is responsible for many important physiological processes in the human body, from inflammation to mood. Yet, we still don’t understand its ties with the immune system.
The confounding question is that if Cannabis sativa has potent antimicrobial properties, why it is then also linked with the exacerbation of bacterial infections?
Cannabinoids that regulate the activity of certain receptors in the ECS have been shown to alter immune activity in lab conditions. We also have a lot of evidence that suggests that CB2 receptors of the ECS influence several vital immune functions. These receptors especially play a huge role in inflammatory processes. Knowledge of these processes can help us deduct how cannabinoids interact with the immune system, and bring about their therapeutic effects, paving the way for their inclusion in the antibacterial industry.
In 2008, research surfaced, showing that all major cannabinoids exhibited potent antimicrobial activity against different types of MRSA. This included THC (tetrahydrocannabinol), CBC (cannabichromene), CBD (cannabidiol), CBG (Cannabigerol), and CBN (cannabinol).
As a result, researchers concluded that these compounds were responsible for the bulk of C. Sativa’s antimicrobial effects. They also tested the authenticity of their results by introducing chemicals like prenyl moiety into the mix, but the compounds retained their antimicrobial qualities. However, chemicals did alter the chemistry of the cannabinoids, causing the esterification of carboxyl centers, and subsequently, affecting antimicrobial activity.
The cannabinoids portrayed impressive potency in normal conditions, indicating that they clearly had some underlying mechanism that needed further understanding.
How Cannabinoids Interact with The Immune System
The use of cannabis as a healing supplement dates back to 13th century Europe; however, it’s anti-inflammatory, anti-anxiety, analgesic, and anti-anxiety properties were not the topic of debate until the 19th century. Since then, proponents of cannabis have peddled it as a viable treatment for various conditions, such as cancer, arthritis, and epilepsy. In 2018, the FDA also approved the first CBD-based drug, Epdiolex, to treat two rare pediatric epilepsy forms.
In humans, cannabinoids bind to CB1 and CB2 receptors of the ECS. These receptors are also connected to immune cells responsible for warding off infections. Research has indicated that the activation of these cells through cannabinoids may stimulate the immune system to fight infection.
As of yet, more than 100 cannabinoids have been extracted from the cannabis plant. Many of these have been known to exhibit pharmacological properties. Out of these, THC is the most studied compound. It acts as a partial agonist to pronounce its effects. Another major compound is CBD, but unlike THC, cannabidiol is not psychotropic, i.e., it doesn’t cause a high. Most cannabinoids in the body are processed by the cytochrome p450 system, which also has a stake in the metabolic breakdown of more than 60% of drugs available today.
A New Class Of Antimicrobials?
Some experts have hinted towards the possibility of a new class of plant antimicrobials. The ability of cannabinoids to serve as lipid affinity modulators and affect lipid bioavailability is the main reason behind this debate.
Research focusing on C. Sativa’s antibacterial properties has especially caught pace because of its excellent safety profile. CBD, or cannabidiol, in particular, has shown to exhibit no adverse side effects. The potential applications emerging from this soaring interest could prove groundbreaking.
We’re edging closer to understanding the full extent of the cannabinoid role in the fight against antimicrobial resistance. The only obstacle right now is legalization. While many parts of the world have started to loosen the restrictions surrounding cannabis research and distribution, there is still some cynicism afoot.
Some of the cannabinoid anti-pathogenic phenotypes may also make cannabis a frontrunner for antibacterial products, such as disinfectants and wipes. This could especially hold significant context in the current climate of climate change, with so many environmental problems associated with conventional products in the same category.
Clearly, we need more research to say anything more concrete and conclusive. But, scientists need to expedite their efforts. Antibacterial resistance is spreading at exponential rates, and if cannabinoids have potent antibacterial properties and can help combat the scourge of antibacterial resistance, we need to know. Thankfully, existing studies paint a promising picture.
