Berries never seem to stay fresh for long, even with refrigeration. Almost everyone has experienced the disappointment of discovering moldy fruit just a few short days after purchasing it. However, a recent study shows that treating strawberries with CBD oil can lengthen the shelf life of the fruit and help prevent the berries from molding.
When conducting the study, researchers at the University of South Florida applied CBD oil to freshly harvested strawberries. Then, they stored the berries at 1 degree Celsius for eight days and 10 decrees Celsius for eight days.
The strawberries that were treated with CBD oil reportedly looked fresher and more appealing than the untreated fruit at the end of the study. When tested, they also had less mold growth, less yeast growth, and fewer microbes on them in general. The results indicated that CBD helped maintain the freshness of the strawberries by reducing the number of microbes on them and inhibiting mold and yeast growth.
However, the antimicrobial properties of CBD are not limited to fruit preservation.
Research out of Belgium demonstrated that CBD-infused mouthwash could be as effective as prescription mouthwashes at killing some oral bacteria associated with plaque. It also found that the CBD-infused mouthwash they studied was more effective at killing that bacteria than certain over-the-counter mouthwashes.
This research suggests that CBD-infused mouthwashes could offer a natural alternative to existing mouthwash products, particularly ones that might involve unfavorable side effects.
A 2019 study from the University of Queensland, Australia, suggests other potential uses for CBD’s antimicrobial properties. It showed that CBD could help fight certain bacterial infections, such as staph and pneumonia.
In this study, CBD seemed to be roughly as effective as antibiotics, like vancomycin and daptomycin. Reports indicate that it did not appear to lose its effectiveness over time the way certain antibiotics might, and it showed promise against bacteria that have become resistant to treatments that are more traditional.
These researchers also learned that part of the reason for CBD’s effectiveness against certain bacteria is its ability to disrupt the biofilm, which is a gooey layer around the bacteria. When not disrupted, biofilm can help bacteria stick to surfaces and make it more difficult for antibiotics to reach the bacteria.
Although studies like these have shown exciting results, it is unclear when this research will begin to affect the products available to consumers. Additional studies may be needed to better determine how CBD oil defends against microbes, what an appropriate dosage might be for various applications, what potential side effects may be, and other details.
In the case of the recent strawberry study, researchers felt that CBD oil could one day be used by consumers at home to improve the shelf life of their fresh produce.
However, potential fruit preservation products may not be available for some time because there are still several uncertainties regarding CBD’s use in or on food products. Any potential fruit preservation product would also need to comply with regulations set by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), which have not yet been finalized.
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