A recent study indicates certain cannabinoids may prove to be a useful tool in the fight against fungal infections.
Fungal infections kill millions of people around the world each year. On the World Health Organization (WHO) “Critical Priority Group” list are Cryptococcus neoformans, Candida auris, Aspergillus fumigatus, and Candida albicans due to their high disease burden and resistance to conventional antifungal treatments.
Researchers from Australia’s Macquarie University evaluated the antifungal activity of several cannabinoids against various fungal pathogens, with a focus on Cryptococcus neoformans.
C. neoformans infection starts in the lungs, and can then spread to the brain (cryptococcal meningitis) and other parts of the body. If the brain is infected, the condition is often fatal if left untreated. Cryptococcal meningitis is reportedly responsible for more than 180,000 deaths annually
The researchers found cannabidiol (CBD), and Cannabidivarin (CBDV), have broad activity against this and other fungal pathogens, including dermatophytes that causes tinea. Dermatophytes are a group of fungi that cause superficial infections of the skin, hair, and nails in humans and animals.
As for the mechanism for action, further investigation revealed that CBD and CBDV appear to work by disrupting biofilms in C. neoformans, altering fungal cell morphology, and impacting metabolic pathways and membrane integrity.
Biofilm disruption is important as biofilms are associated with drug resistance among a wide range of fungi, and its formation in relation to C. neoformans is crucial to the fungus to surviving the body’s immune response and to colonize the central nervous system during infection.
The author’s summary states:
“The in vitro and in vivo antifungal efficacy of CBD and CBDV established in this study highlights the potential of phytocannabinoids to address the pressing need for effective and new treatments for fungal infections.”
‘In vitro’ refers to a process taking place in a test tube, culture dish, or elsewhere outside a living organism; while ‘in vivo’ refers to work performed in a whole, living organism.
In their conclusion, the researchers said:
“Taken together, the demonstrated efficacy of CBD and CBDV as broad antifungal agents, coupled with their established safety profile, makes them an exciting resource as a foundation for the development of future therapeutic interventions.”
The peer reviewed research has been published in the journal PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases.
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