Pharmacy, Toxicology & Therapeutics

The overall objective of this consortium is to investigate the human health benefits of hemp constituents, discover new hemp-derived cosmeceuticals and therapeutic agents, and contribute to the safe use of these products. Specific topics under investigation include the following:

• Hemp-based drug discovery
• Development of hemp-derived therapeutic agents
• Safety of hemp-derived therapeutic agents
• Hemp-drug interactions
• Human metabolism and disposition of hemp compounds
• Cosmetic and dermatological applications of hemp

Potential Research Topics include:

Discovery of hemp compounds and hemp-derived therapeutic agents with pharmacologic activities as follows:

• Anti-bacterial
• Antiviral
• Anti-inflammatory
• Anti-aging
• Tissue regeneration and remodeling
• Cancer prevention and cancer therapy
• Prevention of neurological degenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease
• Prevention and treatment of skin diseases including eczema, atopic dermatitis, and allergic contact dermatitis

 

 

CURRENT RESEARCH

Discover minor cannabinoids for pain management: OSU researchers Fred Stevens, 

Computational-assisted discovery of bioactive minor cannabinoids from hemp using artificial intelligence (AI) combined with mass spectrometry and cell-based assays of pain to discover minor cannabinoids that might help manage chronic pain. Supported by a grant from the NIH (R21AT012695).

Anti-aging properties of hemp derived cannabinoids: OSU researchers Gitali Ganguli-Indra, Kevin Brown

Evaluate the protective functions of bioactive molecules including hemp derived metabolites against chronological aging and photoaging.

Hemp and metabolites in tissue repair and regeneration: OSU researchers Gitali Ganguli-Indra, Kevin Brown

Characterizing new bioactive molecules and metabolites including those derived from hemp in healing, repair, and regeneration of chronic (diabetic) and burn wounds.

Anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory, and anti-cancer properties of hemp-derived bioactives: OSU researchers Arup Indra, Kevin Brown

Characterizing the anti-inflammatory, anti-proliferative, and immunomodulatory role of hemp-derived bioactive molecules and metabolites in the prevention of cancer and use as adjuvant therapy in cancer treatment.

past research

Discovery that certain hemp cannabinoid acids can block infection of human cells by SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19: OSU faculty Richard van Breemen, Ruth Muchiri, and others

Using a novel mass spectrometry-based drug discovery approach invented in the lab, they found that the CBDA, CBGA, and THCA from hemp can prevent cell entry by SARS CoV-2 by binding to the spike protein on the surface of the virus.