CBD (cannabidiol) has improved the effectiveness of antibiotics in killing bacteria, according to a recent study. The study, by researchers at the University of Southern Denmark, is published in the journal Scientific Reports.
The researchers discovered that CBD could act as an adjuvant to enhance the effects of antibiotics. The discovery was made when researchers used cannabidiol, one of the main active components of the cannabis plant, in addition to the antibiotic bacitracin.
“When we combined CBD and antibiotics, we saw a more powerful effect than with treatment with antibiotics alone. So we needed fewer antibiotics to kill a certain number of bacteria, ”the researchers said. For their study, they investigated the effect of CBD in addition to the antibiotic bacitracin on Staphylococcus aureus bacteria. This type of bacteria is quite common and can cause a number of infections if the skin or mucous membranes are damaged; including skin infections, pneumonia, heart valve and bone infections.
Antibiotics and bacteria
Antibiotics were discovered in 1928 by Sir Alexander Flemming in the form of penicillin. Since this discovery, antibiotics have been increasingly used in the fight against bacterial infections and diseases. However, this exposure has caused bacteria to mutate and become immune to current antibiotics. In the case of Staphylococcus aureus, there are now a number of drug-resistant versions of this bacteria, often making the infections difficult to treat. However, researchers who worked in this study believe that the combination of CBD and antibiotics could be a new treatment for such conditions.
Coctail of cbd and bacitracin
The researchers found that CBD, given in combination with bacitracin, helped the decline of Staphylococcus aureus bacteria. It was observed that the bacteria could not multiply normally. In addition, the bacterial membrane became unstable and the number of key genes in the bacteria was reduced. The main cause of antibiotic resistance in bacteria is the overuse of antibiotics. The researchers argue that combinations such as those highlighted in this study can help control this phenomenon.
A similar study also found that another cannabinoid, CBG, could also help kill Staphylococcus aureus bacteria.
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