Cannabidiol – A Role for COVID-19?

Abstract

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 patie nts.