PREPARATIONS
Dried strobiles 0.5-1g.[3]
As hypnotic 1-2 g. As infusion 1:20.
Fluid extract 1:1 in 45% alcohol 0.5-2 ml. 1:1 60% alcohol.[4]
0.5-4 ml.[3]
Tincture 1:5 in 60% alcohol 1-2 ml.. 2-4 ml.[3]
Local Poultice.[1,2]
Luypulin 120-300 mg.[3] ORIGIN: Europe, parts of Asia and North America. Extensively
cultivated. DESCRIPTION: The female flower or strobile is yellowish-green,
cone-like, about 2.5-3 cm long and 2-2.5 cm broad, formed from two membranous
scales, one of which bears the small seed-like fruit at the base. It is scatttered
with shining yellow glands; these can be separated by sifting and are then known
as lupulin. References
[1] British Herbal Pharmacopoeia 1983
Published by the British Herbal Medicine Association ISBN 0 903032 07 4.
[2] Herbal Materia Medica Course Notes For Diploma of Naturopathy and Diploma
of Herbalism Students by Lydia Mottram.
[3] Potter's New Cyclopaedia of Botanical Drugs and Preparations R.C.
Wren Revised by Elizabeth M. Williamson and Fred J Evans. First published in
Great Britain in 1988 and reprinted in 1989 and 1994 by the C. W. Daniel Company
Limited. 1 Church Path, Saffron Walden Essex. Published 1988 Printed and bound
by Biddles, Guildford ISBN 085207 1973.
[4] The Pharmaceutical Plant Company Pty Ltd ppcherbs.com.au Images
1. en.wikipedia.org
by Bdk CC BY-SA 3.0
2. en.wikipedia.org
by LuckyStarr CC BY 2.5
3. goodbeerweek.com.au
Inner Path can not take any responsibility for any adverse effects from the
use of plants. Always seek advice from a professional before using a plant medicinally. Constituents.
Volatile oil 0.3-l% containing mostly humulene
(a-carophyllene), b-caryophyllene,
myrcene, farnesene, 2-methylbut-3-ene-2-ol, 3-methylbut-2-ene-1-al, 2,3,5-trithiahexane;
with traces of acids such as 2-methylpropanoic and 3-methylbutonoic, which increases
significanlty in concentration in stored extracts.[1,2,3]
Lupulone, antiseptic ketones, and Lupulene.
Bitter principles Humulone.
Flavonols; mainly glycosides of Kaempferol and Quercertin.[4]
Resin about 3-12%, composed of a-bitter acids such as lupulene, colupulone,
adlupulone.[5]
Estrogenic substances of undeterined structure; two of these have molecular
weights of approx. 66-80 000 and 80 000 respectively.[4]
Tannins[5] 5%. Lipids, the chalcone-
xanthohumol.[5] References
[1] Hartley, R. D. (1968) Phytochem. 7, 1641
[2] Hartley, R. D. and Fawcett, C. H. (1968) Phytochem. 7,
1395
[3] Moir, M. et al. (1980) Phytochem. 19 (10), 2201
[4] Kumai, A. and Okamoto, R. (1984) Toxicol. Lett. 21 (2),
203
[5] Encyclopedia of Common Natural Ingredients used in Food Drugs and Cosmetics,
Albert Y. Leung. Pub. John Wiley & Sons Inc. (1980) NY
Research. The sedative and tranquillizing activity is well established in
a variety of animal tests-[1,2] thought
to be mainly due to the 2-methylbut-3-ene-2-ol. This substance, which is present
in fresh extract, has been found to be absent from many commercial preparations;
however these preparations are still efficaceous and it is though that the compound
may be formed in the body from the a-bitter acids.[2,3]
An extract of hops was found to be strongly spasmolytic on isolated smooth muscle
preparations.[5] References
[1] Bravo, L. et al. (1974) Boll. Chim. Farm. 306
[2] Hansel, R. et al. (1982) Planta Med. 45 (4), 224
[3] Wohlfart, R. (1983) Deutsche Apoth. Ztg. 123, 1637
[4] Schmalreck, A. F. et al. (1975) Can. J. Microbiol. 21,
205
[5] Caujolle, F. et al. (1969) Agressologie 10, 405
The sedative effects of hops (Humulus lupulus), a component of beer,
on the activity/rest rhythm. Franco L1, Sánchez C, Bravo R,
Rodriguez A, Barriga C, Juánez JC. Acta Physiol Hung. 2012 Jun;99(2):133-9.
doi: 10.1556/APhysiol.99.2012.2.6. Abstract- The hop (Humulus lupulus), a component of beer, is
a sedative plant whose pharmacological activity is due principally to its bitter
resins, especially to the a-acid component 2-methyl-3-buten-2-ol. The mechanism
of action of the resin of hop consists of increasing the activity of the neurotransmitter
a-aminobutyric (GABA), inhibiting the central nervous
system (CNS). Results- The concentration of 2 mg of hop extract effectively
decreased nocturnal activity in the circadian activity rhythm. On the basis
of this investigation, administration of non-alcoholic beer would be recommended
due to its hop content and consequent sedative action, which would be an aid
to nocturnal sleep. ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
Identification of a potent phytoestrogen in hops (Humulus lupulus L.)
and beer. Milligan SR, Kalita JC, Heyerick A, Rong H, De Cooman L, De Keukeleire
D. Abstract
The female flowers of the hop plant are used as a preservative and as a flavoring
agent in beer. However, a recurring suggestion has been that hops have a powerful
estrogenic activity and that beer may also be estrogenic. In this study, sensitive
and specific in vitro bioassays for estrogens were used for an activity-guided
fractionation of hops via selective solvent extraction and appropriate HPLC
separation. We have identified a potent phytoestrogen in hops, 8-prenylnaringenin,
which has an activity greater than other established plant estrogens. The estrogenic
activity of this compound was reflected in its relative binding affinity to
estrogen receptors from rat uteri. The presence of 8-prenylnaringenin in hops
may provide an explanation for the accounts of menstrual disturbances in female
hop workers. This phytoestrogen can also be detected in beer, but the levels
are low and should not pose any cause for concern.
PMID: 10372741 DOI: 10.1210/jcem.84.6.5887 J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 1999
Jun;84(6):2249-52. ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
Biological and chemical standardization of a hop (Humulus lupulus) botanical
dietary supplement. Krause E, Yuan Y, Hajirahimkhan A, Dong H, Dietz BM, Nikolic D, Pauli
GF, Bolton JL, van Breemen RB. Abstract
Concerned about the safety of conventional estrogen replacement therapy, women
are using botanical dietary supplements as alternatives for the management of
menopausal symptoms such as hot flashes. Before botanical dietary supplements
can be evaluated clinically for safety and efficacy, botanically authenticated
and standardized forms are required. To address the demand for a standardized,
estrogenic botanical dietary supplement, an extract of hops (Humulus lupulus
L.) was developed. Although valued in the brewing of beer, hop extracts are
used as anxiolytics and hypnotics and have well-established estrogenic constituents.
Starting with a hop cultivar used in the brewing industry, spent hops (the residue
remaining after extraction of bitter acids) were formulated into a botanical
dietary supplement that was then chemically and biologically standardized. Biological
standardization utilized the estrogen-dependent induction of alkaline phosphatase
in the Ishikawa cell line. Chemical standardization was based on the prenylated
phenols in hops that included estrogenic 8-prenylnaringenin, its isomer 6-prenylnaringenin,
and pro-estrogenic isoxanthohumol and its isomeric chalcone xanthohumol, all
of which were measured using high-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass
spectrometry. The product of this process was a reproducible botanical extract
suitable for subsequent investigations of safety and efficacy.
PMID: 24861737 PMCID: PMC4240625 DOI: 10.1002/bmc.3177 Biomed Chromatogr.
2014 Jun;28(6):729-34. doi: 10.1002/bmc.3177. ncbi.nlm.nih.gov