A newly published study on cannabidiol (CBD) suggests that this globally popular compound derived from cannabis may become an effective way to treat common vaginal infections.

The research focused on Gardnerella vaginalis, a type of bacteria that naturally lives in the vagina but can cause infections when its balance with other microorganisms is disrupted. In lab tests, CBD showed strong antibacterial and antioxidant effects. It was able to weaken Gardnerella vaginalis and break down bacterial communities known as biofilms, which often make infections harder to treat.

A new paper states: “Our study demonstrates that CBD exhibits both antibacterial and antibiofilm activity against clinical isolates of Gardnerella vaginalis, making it a potential therapeutic agent for vaginal diseases caused by this bacterium.”

The paper was published this month in a special issue of the journal Antibiotics, which focuses on “Antimicrobial and Antibiofilm Activity of Natural Compounds.” It was authored by a four-person team from the Hebrew University and the Hadassah-Hebrew University Medical Center.

"Importantly, CBD not only prevents the formation of Gardnerella vaginalis biofilms, but also reduces the metabolic activity and biomass of pre-formed mature biofilms," the authors wrote. "This dual action—both preventing biofilm formation and targeting existing mature biofilms—meets a key requirement for the successful treatment of bacterial vaginal diseases."

"With its antibacterial and antibiofilm properties, CBD is capable of fighting Gardnerella vaginalis, a Gram-variable opportunistic pathogen associated with bacterial vaginosis."

The paper notes that Gardnerella vaginalis is not the only bacterium that can cause vaginal infections, but among the 30 tested species, it was found to be "the most common and virulent."

The research team stated that their study appears to be the first to investigate the effects of CBD on bacteria.

While the findings are promising, the team also pointed out a key limitation: the study was conducted in vitro, meaning it examined the effects of CBD on bacteria in a petri dish, not within a living organism.

The paper emphasizes that “further research should focus on evaluating the in vivo efficacy of CBD in treating bacterial vaginosis and assessing any potential toxicity in animal models before moving on to future human clinical trials.”

This new study adds to the growing body of evidence suggesting that cannabinoids have strong antibacterial properties.

For example, a review published last year found that cannabis oil may help promote skin wound healing. While improved product formulations are still needed, the study concluded that cannabis oil offers “highly promising therapeutic benefits.”

The report—authored by researchers from universities in India and Thailand—focused on how cannabis oil can reduce so-called reactive oxygen species (ROS) during the wound healing process. It explained that ROS “play a critical role in wound healing by causing cellular and tissue damage.”

“In addition, the antibacterial and analgesic properties of cannabis help reduce microbial load and minimize complications associated with chronic wounds,” the authors wrote, “thereby improving the overall wound healing outcome.”

A few months ago, another review stated that “the complex interplay between phytocannabinoids and biological systems offers hope for new therapeutic approaches,” laying the foundation for an innovative era in cannabis-based medicine.

The review specifically highlighted the strong antibacterial potential of cannabinoids like CBD and CBN, noting that “their antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties make them valuable candidates for combating antibiotic resistance and modulating inflammatory pathways.”