CBD oil can be used as an antimicrobial treatment
Once again, a possible new benefit of cannabidiol has been discovered. Researchers in Florida recently found that CBD oil, when applied to fresh fruit immediately after storage, can act as a preservative that inhibits the growth of yeasts and molds.
Study: CBD Oil Extends Strawberry Shelf Life
CBD oil poured on strawberries extends shelf life and protects fruits from germs, according to a new study. The results were collected by a team of researchers associated with the University of South Florida. What they found is both intriguing and could lead to lucrative opportunities.
"Strawberries were evaluated for their visual quality and their microbial load before and during storage," reads the summary of the article. “The results of this study showed that CBD oil was effective in maintaining the visual appearance of strawberries… compared to fruits that were not treated. "
The researchers stored the strawberries treated with CBD oil at one degree Celsius for eight days and at 10 degrees Celsius for eight days. Strawberries treated with CBD oil contained fewer microbes, less mold and less yeast.
The results show that "CBD oil can be used by home consumers as an effective antimicrobial treatment and to extend the shelf life of strawberries."
It's relatively safe to say that while cannabidiol oil can extend the shelf life of strawberries, it could be applied to other fruits as well.
The researchers applied CBD oil to fresh fruit immediately after harvest, then stored it at 1 ° C for eight days and at 10 ° C for another eight days. Strawberries treated with CBD were evaluated for visual quality and microbial load before and during storage and rated based on appearance.
Cannabidiol (CBD) has been linked to antimicrobial properties
Judging by these results, the research team came to four main conclusions:
- CBD oil has promising potential as an antimicrobial treatment for fresh produce.
- Treating strawberries with CBD oil extends shelf life and reduces the microbial load.
- CBD oil inhibited the growth of yeasts and molds on strawberries.
- Strawberries treated with CBD oil were of higher quality than unstalked fruits
Other studies have suggested that CBD is a powerful anti-microbial. A study by Australian researchers published in June showed that the cannabinoid killed all strains of bacteria, including those that are highly resistant to existing antibiotics, and was effective in treating a skin infection in mice. Additionally, bacteria did not become resistant to CBD even after being exposed to it for 20 days, the period during which bacteria can become resistant to antibiotics.
A study conducted by the University of Southern Denmark and published in March used CBD as an 'auxiliary compound' to enhance the effect of bacitracin antibiotic for staph infection. When the researchers combined CBD with antibiotics, they "saw a more potent effect than with antibiotics alone" and, to kill a number of bacteria, they needed fewer antibiotics.
A study published in February found that another cannabinoid, cannabigerol or CBG, was able to treat and defeat the family of bacteria known as Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus aureus or MRSA.
The University of South Florida study, "Using Cannabidiol as a Potential Postharvest Treatment to Maintain Quality and Extend Strawberry Shelf Life," was published online before going to print. It will be featured in the March 2021 issue of the review of Postharvest Biology and Technology.
