Humulus lupus (Hops) - Glossary

Humulus lupus (Hops)

A climbing perennial vine, the flowers of which are used as a flavoring agent in beer.  Hops contains a range of flavonoids, including 8-prenylnaringenin – a potent phytoestrogen.  Hops also exhibits chemopreventive activity, as an inhibitor of CYP1A1 – a liver (Phase I) enzyme that activates chemical carcinogens.  Hops extract – in combination with valerian – has been studied as a sleep aid.  Compounds isolated from hops also possess cytotoxic, anti-aromatase and antioxidant activities in-vitro, although in-vivo research remains to be done.

Author: elissa

Elissa is a former research associate with the University of California at Davis, and the author/co-author of over a dozen articles published in scientific journals. Currently a freelance writer and researcher, Elissa brings her multidisciplinary education and training to her writing on nutrition and supplements.

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