Study: CBD Does Not Increase DNA Damage in Human Liver Cells

The research was conducted by scientists at Brandenburg University of Technology Cottbus-Senftenberg and focused on short-term cellular responses to CBD exposure.

“Cannabidiol (CBD) is a non-psychoactive cannabinoid with potential therapeutic applications, including anti-inflammatory, analgesic, and anticancer effects”, states the study’s abstract. “However, experts raised concerns about its potential to induce DNA damage and chromosomal aberrations at low concentrations. Notably, these studies used liver cell lines, which may not fully reflect the metabolic processing of CBD, potentially limiting the generalizability of their findings.”

With that in mind, :This study investigated the short time effects of CBD on DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs) and proliferation in the human liver-derived cell line HepG2.”

Using the human liver-derived HepG2 cell line, the team exposed cells to CBD concentrations ranging from 5 to 50 micromolar for incubation periods between 3 and 72 hours. The researchers evaluated DNA double-strand breaks using established molecular markers and compared results to cells treated with etoposide, a chemotherapy drug used as a positive control. They also examined changes in cannabinoid receptor expression to assess broader cellular effects.

The study found no significant increase in DNA double-strand breaks following CBD treatment across the tested concentrations and timeframes. While etoposide produced clear, dose-dependent DNA damage, CBD did not replicate those effects. Researchers did observe a dose-dependent reduction in CB2 receptor expression, along with decreased cell proliferation and elevated intracellular cAMP levels.

Overall, the findings suggest that short-term CBD exposure does not induce meaningful DNA damage in this liver cell model, though it does influence cellular signaling and growth. The authors noted that these results help clarify CBD’s safety profile at commonly studied concentrations while underscoring the need for further research in more complex biological systems.