Role of Characteristic Components of Humulus lupulus in Promoting Human Health.
Lin M, Xiang D, Chen X, Huo H.
J Agric Food Chem. 2019 Jul 31;67(30):8291-8302. doi: 10.1021/acs.jafc.9b03780.

Cucurbita pepo-Rhus aromatica-Humulus lupulus Combination Reduces Overactive Bladder Symptoms in Women - A Noninterventional Study.
Gauruder-Burmester A, Heim S, Patz B, Seibt S.
Planta Med. 2019 Jul 1. doi: 10.1055/a-0946-2280

Composition and In Vitro Effects of Cultivars of Humulus lupulus L. Hops on Cholinesterase Activity and Microbial Growth.
Kobus-Cisowska J, Szymanowska-Powałowska D, Szczepaniak O, Kmiecik D, Przeor M, Gramza-Michałowska A, Cielecka-Piontek J, Smuga-Kogut M, Szulc P.
Nutrients. 2019 Jun 19;11(6). pii: E1377. doi: 10.3390/nu11061377.

Humulus lupulus L. Extract Prevents Ovariectomy-Induced Osteoporosis in Mice and Regulates Activities of Osteoblasts and Osteoclasts.
Xia TS, Lin LY, Zhang QY, Jiang YP, Li CH, Liu XY, Qin LP, Xin HL.
Chin J Integr Med. 2019 Mar 27. doi: 10.1007/s11655-019-2700-z
 
Phenolic Compounds from Humulus lupulus as Natural Antimicrobial Products: New Weapons in the Fight against Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus aureus, Leishmania mexicana and Trypanosoma brucei Strains.
Bocquet L, Sahpaz S, Bonneau N, Beaufay C, Mahieux S, Samaillie J, Roumy V, Jacquin J, Bordage S, Hennebelle T, Chai F, Quetin-Leclercq J, Neut C, Rivière C.
Molecules. 2019 Mar 14;24(6). pii: E1024. doi: 10.3390/molecules24061024.

Assessment of the phytochemical profiles of novel hop (Humulus lupulus L.) cultivars: A potential route to beer crafting.
Yan D, Wong YF, Shellie RA, Marriott PJ, Whittock SP, Koutoulis A.
Food Chem. 2019 Mar 1;275:15-23. doi: 10.1016/j.foodchem.2018.09.082.

Antiviral and Antioxidant Activity of a Hydroalcoholic Extract from Humulus lupulus L.
Di Sotto A, Checconi P, Celestino I, Locatelli M, Carissimi S, De Angelis M, Rossi V, Limongi D, Toniolo C, Martinoli L, Di Giacomo S, Palamara AT, Nencioni L.
Oxid Med Cell Longev. 2018 Jul 24;2018:5919237. doi: 10.1155/2018/5919237

Medicinal properties of terpenes found in Cannabis sativa and Humulus lupulus.
Nuutinen T.
Eur J Med Chem. 2018 Sep 5;157:198-228. doi: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2018.07.076.

Iso-alpha acids from hops (Humulus lupulus) inhibit hepatic steatosis, inflammation, and fibrosis.
Mahli A, Koch A, Fresse K, Schiergens T, Thasler WE, Schönberger C, Bergheim I, Bosserhoff A, Hellerbrand C.
Lab Invest. 2018 Dec;98(12):1614-1626. doi: 10.1038/s41374-018-0112-x.

Sequential Elution of Essential Oil Constituents during Steam Distillation of Hops (Humulus lupulus L.) and Influence on Oil Yield and Antimicrobial Activity.
Jeliazkova E, D Zheljazkov V, Kačániova M, Astatkie T, L Tekwani B.
J Oleo Sci. 2018 Jul 1;67(7):871-883. doi: 10.5650/jos.ess17216

Anticancer Activity and Mechanism of Xanthohumol: A Prenylated Flavonoid From Hops (Humulus lupulus L.).
Jiang CH, Sun TL, Xiang DX, Wei SS, Li WQ.
Front Pharmacol. 2018 May 22;9:530. doi: 10.3389/fphar.2018.00530

Hop (Humulus Lupulus L.) belongs to the family of Cannabaceae, but has been included in the order Rosales since 2003.

It is an annual climbing plant that develops in temperate and cold climates.

• The most common species of Humulus are:
• Humulus Lupulus 
• Humulus japonicus 
• Humulus yunnanensis

In its composition we find the polyphenols (they exert antioxidant activity), which constitute 3-6% of the dry substance of the cone. Xanthohumol is the most important  prenylated chalconium in terms of concentration and biological activity. It constitutes 80-90% of all prenylated flavonoids (1).

It is used in beer processing (the cones of the female hop plants are mainly used as an ingredient for the brewing industry) to give it a bitter taste.

The component responsible for the characteristic scent of the hops is the geranium acid which has unique characteristics. This compound is not an "odour-active", but acts as an enhancer of the terpenoids that give the classic scent (2).

Hop is also used in the pharmaceutical and medical sector as a sedative (3), sleeping pill, pain-reliever.

For more information:

Hop studies

References_____________________________________

(1) Hop (Humulus lupulus L.) Extract and 6-Prenylnaringenin Induce P450 1A1 Catalyzed Estrogen 2-Hydroxylation.  Wang S, Dunlap TL, Howell CE, Mbachu OC, Rue EA, Phansalkar R, Chen SN, Pauli GF, Dietz BM, Bolton JL.  Chem Res Toxicol. 2016 Jul 18;29(7):1142-50. doi: 10.1021/acs.chemrestox.6b00112.

(2) Identification and Characterization of Geranic Acid as a Unique Flavor Compound of Hops ( Humulus lupulus L.) Variety Sorachi Ace.  Sanekata A, Tanigawa A, Takoi K, Nakayama Y, Tsuchiya Y.  J Agric Food Chem. 2018 Nov 21;66(46):12285-12295. doi: 10.1021/acs.jafc.8b04395.

(3) Sedating effects of Humulus lupulus L. extracts.  Schiller H, Forster A, Vonhoff C, Hegger M, Biller A, Winterhoff H.  Phytomedicine. 2006 Sep;13(8):535-41.