ASM Microbe: Cannabidiol found to be active against Gram-positive bacteria

An in vitro study led by Mark Blaskovich of The University of Queensland’s Institute for Molecular Bioscience’s Centre for Superbug Solutions (Australia) has identified potent antibiotic properties possessed by cannabidiol (CBD). The cannabinoid was found to be active against Gram-positive bacteria such as Staphylococcus aureus and Streptococcus pneumoniae.

Working alongside Botanix pharmaceuticals, an early-phase drug discovery company, Blaskovich and his team explored the potential of topically applied CBD in the treatment of skin conditions, attempting to answer the question: does CBD have antibiotic properties? The results, which were presented at ASM Microbe (20–24 June 2019, San Francisco, CA, USA) displayed a surprisingly powerful antibiotic effect against Gram-positive bacteria that was comparable to existing antibiotics, including vancomycin and daptomycin.