A recent Israeli study has found a possible treatment for COVID-19 complications in cannabis. The chemical CBD (cannabidiol) has been studied in a combination with a cannabis terpene (NT-VRL). This CBD is one of the key ingredients in cannabis Sativa. Meanwhile, the cannabis terpene NT-VRL (patent of Ebyna) is an aromatic chemical from the flowers of the plant. When administered in combination, there has been a noticeable positive effect on ‘cytokine storm’, a feared complication of COVID-19.
Cytokine storm is a dangerous reaction to COVID-19 by the body’s immune system
The term ‘cytokine storm’ refers to a chain reaction of immune cells, causing increasing levels of inflammation. Because the body is responding to the coronavirus infecting the patient, it secretes small proteins called ‘cytokines’. Usually, these have small but important roles in helping kill off the virus by creating inflammation and fever. However, when this reaction goes unchecked, it can be deadly if untreated. The patient would undergo very high levels of fever, fatigue, inflammation, and in worst-cases, respiratory failure.
This is why the recent discovery that COVID-19 can lead to cytokine storm was so shocking. It meant that even young, healthy people with strong immune systems would be susceptible to potential deaths from this disease. Furthermore, the most widely-used drug of choice for treating this, dexamethasone, is undergoing a global shortage.
The company, Ebyna, had patented the cannabis terpene, NT-VRL
The study was a collaboration between Ebyna, the terpene company, and Cannasoul, a cannabis research entity. Thus, Ebyna and Cannasoul’s joint venture led to the formation of an inhalant drug. This contained NT-VRL, to be administered with or without CBD. The aim of the study was to investigate the effects they had on treating cytokine storm from COVID-19.
Long just dismissed as simply useful in the flavor/smell of cannabis products, terpenes were shown to be very effective in this case. When combined with the CBD, which has also been shown to have positive health effects, it was remarkable. The combined therapy of both CBD and NT-VRL significantly improved symptoms of cytokine storm from COVID-19.
“This type of delivery [inhaled, rather than ingested] method is a game-changer enabling us to achieve therapeutic qualities from these unique phytochemicals like never before,” said Nadav Eya, the CEO of Ebyna. He was referring to the unexpected efficacy of the NT-VRL therapy in this COVID-19 complication.
Other studies confirm Ebyna-Cannasoul’s findings
Outside of Israel, several studies report similar findings. More and more researchers are turning to cannabis byproducts to battle the COVID-19 pandemic.
Igor and Olga Kovalchuck, researchers from Canada, were both developing a new strain of cannabis. Their aim was to extract anti-cancer drugs from it. However, the new COVID-19 pandemic caused them to shift focus towards combating the coronavirus. Their strain is hoped to be able to produce a drug that could reduce the communicability of SARS-CoV2. It would do so by restricting the ACE-2 receptors in the body.
All in all, Ebyna and Cannasoul’s NT-VRL terpene may just be revolutionary. The existence of terpene as an anti-cytokine storm drug is still debatable, and more research is still required. However, their study and that of corroborators have shown that cannabis is even more useful a plant than we had ever suspected. For more news and updates on the state of the CBD-terpene therapy, stay tuned. In the meanwhile, check out other recent studies on CBD here.