Researchers at Washington State University found that CBD may slow the metabolism of nicotine in cigarette smokers, noting the impact is “quite strong.”
Cannabidiol, more commonly known as CBD, may have a positive impact on reducing cigarette smoking, according to new research from Washington State University (WSU).
In their study, a team led by WSU researchers found that CBD may slow the metabolism of nicotine in cigarette smokers. The research team tested CBD for its effects on human cell and liver tissue samples, and found that CBD inhibited a key enzyme in nicotine metabolism, meaning cigarette smokers may be able to wait longer before feeling the urge for that next cigarette.
The researchers found CBD inhibited several enzymes related to nicotine metabolism, and noted CBD’s impact on nicotine metabolism was “quite strong,” inhibiting activity by 50 percent at relatively low concentration levels, according to the research.
“In other words, it appears that you don’t need much CBD to see the effect,” said Philip Lazarus, professor of pharmaceutical sciences at WSU.
Lazarus says while more research is needed to confirm this data, including dosage levels, he is encouraged by the initial findings.
“The whole mission is to decrease harm from smoking, which is not from the nicotine per se, but all the carcinogens and other chemicals that are in tobacco smoke. If we can minimize that harm, it would be a great thing for human health,” said Lazarus, who also served as senior author on the study, which was published in the journal Chemical Research in Toxicology.
The research was funded by a grant from the National Institutes of Health. Co-authors for the study, in addition to Lazarus, include first author Shamema Nasrin, Shelby Coates, Keti Bardhi and Christy Watson of the WSU College of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Joshua Muscat of Penn State Cancer Institute.
Going forward, Lazarus and the team led by WSU researchers are currently developing a clinic study to examine the effects of CBD on nicotine levels in smokers’ blood, and eventually hope to conduct a larger study on the relationship between CBD and nicotine addiction, according to WSU.
