Study Finds CBD Selectively Kills Cancer Cells While Sparing Healthy Cells

OG article by Anthony Martinelli

January 2, 2026

A study published in the International Journal of Molecular Sciences demonstrates that cannabidiol (CBD) shows selective cytotoxicity against cancer cells with minimal impact on non-cancerous cells. Researchers from Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León in Mexico tested CBD on three human cancer cell lines: HeLa (cervical), MDA-MB-231 (triple-negative breast), and CaCo-2 (colorectal). These were exposed to CBD concentrations of 5, 10, and 20 micromolar for 24 to 96 hours, alongside non-cancerous controls HaCaT (keratinocytes) and HUVEC (endothelial cells). MTT assays revealed dose- and time-dependent reductions in cancer cell viability. Median lethal concentrations at 24 hours were 9.4 micromolar for HeLa, 10.3 for MDA-MB-231, and notably lower at 4.3 micromolar for CaCo-2, indicating greater sensitivity in colorectal cancer cells. DAPI nuclear staining and flow cytometry confirmed morphological changes, apoptosis, and necrosis in cancer cells, which increased with exposure duration. Non-cancerous cells exhibited significantly reduced effects under identical conditions. The authors conclude that "CBD demonstrates selective cytotoxicity toward malignant cells compared to non-malignant cells," suggesting potential as an adjunctive cancer therapy. However, they emphasize that results are in vitro only and require clinical validation before therapeutic application.