Cannabidiol – A Role for COVID-19?

Although the lung is considered as the primary organ affected by SARS-CoV-2, responsible for tissue and organ hypoxia, cerebrovascular complications such as stroke and neurological impairment such as Guillain-Barré syndrome have been repeatedly reported in COVID-19 patients. Many drugs that are currently administered to patients are experimental treatments which poorly cross the blood-brain-barrier. Cannabidiol (CBD) is known since long for reaching high brain levels and for its favourable safety profile. It has been shown to be neuroprotective and anti-inflammatory and has prevented sequelae in various hypoxic-ischemic disease models as well as in animal models of demyelination. In the past, it has been demonstrated that CBD can be safely co-administered with a number of other medications. CBD may be able to prevent and attenuate complications and long-term damages also in COVID-19 patients.

Keywords:Anosmia, Anxiety, Cannabidiol, COVID-19, Guillain-Barré syndrome, Hypoxia, Neuroinflammation, Neuroprotection, SARS-CoV-2, Stroke

Abbreviations: CBD: Cannabidiol; CVD: Cerebrovascular Disease; EAE: Experimental Autoimmune Encephalomyelitis; MOG: Myelin Oligodendrocyte Glycoprotein; TMEV: Theilers Murine Encephalitis Virus