Drug-free cannabinoids are effectively used as an antimicrobial agent

Cannabidiol-rich oil has promising potential as a natural preservative - antimicrobial agent for fresh foods; processing fruits with it not only prolongs their shelf life, but also reduces microbial load; inhibits the growth of yeast and mold on fruits; fruits treated with cannabidiol-rich oil are of better quality than untreated fruits.

Florida researchers have found that CBD-rich oil, when applied to fresh fruit immediately after harvest, can act as an effective preservative to inhibit the growth and development of yeast and mold on the surface.

According to the findings of the University of South Florida experts, the cannabidiol-rich oil added to strawberries prolongs its shelf life and protects the berries from the negative effects of microbes on them. In a summary of the published article Using Cannabidiol as a Potential Post-Harvest Treatment for Maintaining Quality and Extending the Shelf Life of Strawberries, it is stated that “Berries were evaluated for appearance and exposure to microbial load before and during storage. Experimental results have shown that CBD-rich oil is effective in maintaining the presentation of strawberries when compared to other unprocessed berries. " 

The researchers stored the CBD-rich strawberries for eight days at 1 and 10 degrees Celsius. Experiments have found that strawberries treated with CBD oil contained fewer germs, mold, and yeast than untreated strawberries.

Based on the findings, the research team came to the following conclusions:

•  Cannabidiol-rich oil has promising potential as an antimicrobial agent for fresh foods - a natural preservative;

•  Treating fruits with CBD-rich oil not only prolongs their shelf life, but also reduces microbial load;

•  oil rich in cannabidiol inhibits the growth of yeast and mold on fruits;

•  fruit treated with cannabidiol-rich oil of better quality than untreated fruit.

Research by American scientists is supported by experiments in Australia. In particular, the results of experiments carried out by Australian scientists demonstrate that plant cannabidiol is a potent antimicrobial agent. This drug-free cannabinoid kills all strains of bacteria, including those that are highly resistant to existing antibiotics, and are extremely effective in treating various types of skin infections. Specifically, they found that bacteria did not become resistant to plant cannabidiol even after being exposed to them for 20 days, a period during which bacteria can become resistant to antibiotics.

In another study by the University of Southern Denmark, natural cannabidiol was used as an “adjuvant” to enhance the antibiotic bacitracin against staphylococcus infection. In experiments, the researchers combined the therapeutic properties of natural cannabidiol with antibiotics and found more powerful effects than when antibiotics were used exclusively for treatment. Accordingly, much less antibiotics have been used to combat diseases caused by the negative effects of pathogenic bacteria.

Another study has shown that cannabigerol can be used effectively to treat a number of diseases that are caused by methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus.