Hops is a perrenial climbing plant, primarily cultivated for its use in brewing. Hop cones are used in brewing, whose bioactive compounds conserve beer and give it its distinctive aroma and taste. Hop cones are also used in manufacturing pharmaceuticals. In addition to cones, young shoots are used as vegetables, potential uses for leaves and seeds are also being investigated. Cones, shoots, as well as leaves and seeds contain bioactive compounds. Bioactive substances, which are primary or secondary metabolites, give the hops sedative, estrogenic, antimicrobial, antioxidant, anticancer and other properties. Bioactive compounds found in hop cones are the most studied, especially essential oils, hop resins and hop phenolics. Among the phenolics, the most interesting ones are xanthohumol and 8-prenylnaringenin, the latter is considered to be one of the most potent phytoestrogens. Because of its simple use and unregistered allergic reactions or side effects, hops have great potential in pharmaceutical use.
|
