Suppressive effect of delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol on herpes

[William Shatner]

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=1848937&dopt=Abstract

Suppressive effect of delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol on herpes simplex virus infectivity in vitro.

Lancz G, Specter S, Brown HK.

Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, University of South Florida, Tampa 33612.

Delta-9-Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) was found to reduce the infectivity of herpes simplex virus and was without effect against adenovirus type 2 or poliovirus. The effective THC concentration resulting in an 80% decrement in virus viability was dependent upon the presence or absence of serum in the incubation mixture, as a 5% serum concentration decreased the drug activity by approximately 50-fold. THC-mediated inactivation of herpes simplex virus was both time and dose dependent and did not result in virion disassembly or clumping. The THC-related effect was not influenced by the pH of the suspending medium, suggesting that the mechanism of inactivation differed from that associated with the thermal inactivation of the virus. Thus, the data suggest that THC preferentially reduces the infectivity of the enveloped herpes simplex virus, and that this activity is modulated by the presence of serum proteins.

[PeterSt]

in english this means?

[William Shatner]

It means that this is yet another study that shows how THC (active in marijuana) reduces herpes ability to survive in vitro.

I've read about at least three studies where THC is found to destroy a certain % like 70-80% of the herpes virus.

Its really hard for people to get studies done like this especially in the US because of marijuana's legality.

I've read a bit about people useing home made THC rubbing alc extracts to treat their sores. I also know that THC is soluble in fat, so an olive oil extract could be made (hypothdically of course, i would never break the law) by heating some buds on very low heat (simmer) for an hour or so in some olive oil, then filtering the oil with a coffee filter.

Perhaps next time i go to amsterdamn I will try this.

Don't go start smoking lots of pot quite yet though, it is still unknown if smoking marijuana has a negative or positive effect on your immune system. I also know that eating THC has more (non-herpes related) health benifits then smoking it. So if you are in a country where its legal, then eating it would be the way to go.

[PeterSt]

Funny Im reading this then. I just found out this week... i hate even typing it so i wont...

But i found out this summer a friend of mine had it- so when i was hit with the news i called him up. Told me he hasnt had an outbreak in over 4 years, and never took meds at all. Fact of interest: he has ALWAYS smoked marijuana.

Might be nothing, might be everything. But it is always something to think about.

And what is in vitro??

[William Shatner]

And what is in vitro??

in virto means the virus is not in a host body, but rather in a controlled enviorment, like a petri dish.