Biologically Active Compounds from Hops and Prospects for Their Use

Abstract

Although female cones of the hop plant (Humulus lupulus) are known primarily as raw material supplying characteristic bitterness and aroma to beer, their equally significant health-promoting effects have been known to mankind for several thousand years and hop is a plant traditionally utilized in folk medicine. This paper summarizes the scientific knowledge on the effects of all 3 major groups of secondary metabolites of hops; polyphenols, essential oils, and resins. Because of their chemical diversity, it is no coincidence that these compounds exhibit a wide range of pharmacologically important properties. In addition to antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anticancer-related properties, particular attention is being paid to prenylflavonoids that occur almost exclusively in hops and are considered to be some of the most active phytoestrogens known. Hop oils and resins are well known for their sedative and other neuropharmacological properties, but in addition, these compounds exhibit antibacterial and antifungal effects. Recently, alpha bitter acids have been shown to block the development of a number of complex lifestyle diseases that are referred to by the collective name "metabolic syndrome." Information presented in this review confirms the significant potential for the use of hops in the pharmaceutical industry and provides an understanding of beer as a natural drink that, although moderately consumed, may become a source of many health-promoting compounds.

Polyphenol Extraction from Humulus lupulus (Hop) Using a Neoteric Glycerol/L-Alanine Deep Eutectic Solvent: Optimisation, Kinetics and the Effect of Ultrasound-Assisted Pretreatment

“…Hop polyphenols comprise almost 4% of the total hop cone dry mass, and they belong to a wide range of classes, including flavonols, flavanols, prenylated chalcones and flavanones, but also phenolic acids, stilbenes and phloroglucinol derivatives [3,4]. It has been reported that more than 100 different compounds may occur in hop extracts, their profile depending mainly on varietal parameters, lending hop an important prospect as a medicinal plant [5,6].…”

Changes in the composition of hop secondary metabolites induced by high hydrostatic pressure

“…Xanthohumol exhibits many bioactive effects against cancer, diabetes, hepatitis C and HIV‐1 viruses, malaria parasites, etc. .…”

Changes in phenolics, γ‐aminobutyric acid content and antioxidant, antihypertensive and hypoglycaemic properties during ale white sorghum (Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench) brewing process

“…During brewing process, gallic, caffeic, p‐coumaric, and ferulic acids increased in HW, after the addition of hop. Phenolic acids in hop comprise 3–6% of the dry weight of hop cones (Karabín et al .,). It is known that in barley beer, both malt and hops are sources of beer polyphenol substances (Lentz, ).…”