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Hops (Humulus lupulus)

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Also listed as: Humulus lupulus
Related terms
Background
Evidencetable
Tradition
Dosing
Attribution
Bibliography

Related Terms
  • 6-Prenylnaringenin (6-PN), 8-prenylnaringenin (8-PN), adenylate isopentenyltransferase, alpha-acids, beta-acids, bitter acids, Cannabaceae (family), catechin, chalcones, cohulupone, colupulone, common hops, Elusan®, epicatechin, European hops, geranyl(geranyl)diphosphate synthase, hop, hop strobile, Hopfen (German), houblon (French), hulupinic acid, humulon, humulus, Humulus lupulus, iso-alpha-acids, isoxanthohumol (IXN), kaempferol glycosides, kaempferol-7-O-rutinoside, Lupuli strobulus, lupulin, lupulus, myrcene, oxidized cohumulinone, oxidized hop alfa-bitter acids, oxidized humulinone derivatives, prenylated 2`-hydroxychalcones, prenylflavonoids, procyanidin dimer B, quercetin, rutin, silicon, spent hops, volatile thiols, xanthohumol (XN), Ze 91019.

Background
  • Hops are the seed cones from the Humulus lupulus plant. H. lupulus belongs to the family Cannabaceae and is native to Europe, Asia, and North America. Hops are cultivated primarily in the United States, Germany, Great Britain, the Czech Republic, and China.
  • Hops are widely used to preserve beer and give it its characteristic aroma and flavor. Essential oils of hops are used in perfumes, cereals, beverages, and tobacco.
  • Traditionally, hop preparations have been used for relaxation, anxiety, and sedation, and to treat sleep disorders. There has been limited research evaluating the effects of hops on sleep.
  • Hops may have effects on hormone-sensitive conditions, such as breast cancer, uterine cancer, cervical cancer, prostate cancer, or endometriosis. The exact effects of hops on these conditions are unclear.

Evidence Table

These uses have been tested in humans or animals. Safety and effectiveness have not always been proven. Some of these conditions are potentially serious, and should be evaluated by a qualified healthcare provider. GRADE *


Limited evidence suggests that hop extract may decrease oxidative stress and markers of cardiovascular risk and inflammation. Further research is needed in this area before a conclusion can be made.

 C


Limited evidence suggests that hop extract may improve quality of life in adults with asthma but may not affect pulmonary function. Further research is needed in this area before a conclusion can be made.

 C


Limited evidence suggests that hop extract may decrease oxidative stress and markers of cardiovascular risk and inflammation. Further research is needed in this area before a conclusion can be made.

 C


Limited evidence suggests that Idrastin®, a combination product containing hops, may be useful, in addition to elastocompressive therapy, for the treatment of phlebostatic sores. Further research is needed in this area before a conclusion can be made.

 C


Limited evidence suggests that a topical underarm combination treatment of hop extract and zinc ricinoleate may have odor reduction and antibacterial effects. Further research using hops alone as a treatment is needed.

 C


Preliminary studies report that hops may have sedative and sleep-enhancing effects. However, little research has evaluated the effects of hops on sleep quality in humans. Further research is needed in this area before a conclusion can be made.

 C


When used in combination with other products, hops may help alleviate menopausal symptoms, such as hot flashes and difficulty sleeping, because it has estrogen-like activity. However, until more well-designed studies are performed, a firm conclusion cannot be made.

 C


Some evidence suggests that hops in combination with other agents may be effective for metabolic syndrome. Further research is needed to determine the effects of hops alone.

 C


Early clinical research suggests that a combination formula containing hops may help reduce symptoms of rheumatic diseases, such as osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, and fibromyalgia. However, well-designed human trials using hops alone are needed to determine if these positive effects are specifically the result of hops.

 C


Hops have been used traditionally as a sedative, for relaxation and reduction of anxiety. Although some preliminary studies suggest possible sedative properties, there is limited research in this area. Better studies are needed before a firm conclusion can be made.

 C
* Key to grades

A: Strong scientific evidence for this use
B: Good scientific evidence for this use
C: Unclear scientific evidence for this use
D: Fair scientific evidence for this use (it may not work)
F: Strong scientific evidence against this use (it likley does not work)


Tradition / Theory
The below uses are based on tradition, scientific theories, or limited research. They often have not been thoroughly tested in humans, and safety and effectiveness have not always been proven. Some of these conditions are potentially serious, and should be evaluated by a qualified healthcare provider. There may be other proposed uses that are not listed below.

  • Analgesic, antibacterial, antifungal, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, antispasmodic, antiviral (anti-HCV, antirhinovirus, antiherpesvirus), anxiety, aphrodisiac (promotes sexual desire), appetite stimulant, asbestosis, atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries), atopic dermatitis, breast cancer, breast enlargement, cancer, colds/flu, Crohn's disease, diabetes, digestion, diuretic (increases urination), dysentery (severe diarrhea), dyspepsia (indigestion), earaches, Epstein-Barr virus, estrogenic effects, gynecologic disorders (female reproductive disorders), hyperlipidemia (high blood lipids), irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), kidney disorders, leprosy, leukemia (HL-60), mood disturbances, muscle spasm, nervous disorders, obesity, osteoporosis, parasitic infections, restlessness, scoliosis (curvature of the spine), seizures, skin ulcers (topical), toothache, tuberculosis, wound healing.

Dosing

Adults (18 years and older)

  • As an antioxidant, 400 milligrams of commercial hops (Elusan®) has been taken by mouth daily for 30 days.
  • For cardiovascular risk reduction, 400 milligrams of commercial hops (Elusan®) has been taken by mouth daily for 30 days.
  • For insomnia or sleep disturbances, capsules containing 250 milligrams of lupulin (a glandular powder separated from part of the hop plant) has been taken by mouth for five days. Traditionally, doses of 0.5-1.0 gram of dried hops extract or 0.5-1.0 milliliter of liquid hops extract (1:1 in 45% alcohol) have been taken by mouth up to three times daily. A dose of 300-400 milligrams of hops extract combined with 240-300 milligrams of valerian (Valeriana officinalis) extract has been taken by mouth before bed.
  • For menopausal symptoms, 100 or 250 micrograms of a hop extract standardized to 8-prenylnaringenin (the phytoestrogen in hops) has been taken by mouth for 8-12 weeks.
  • Intravenous or intramuscular dosing is not recommended.

Children (younger than 18 years)

  • Hops extract is traditionally considered to be one of the milder sedative herbs and to be safe for children. However, there is limited research in this area and safety and effectiveness has not been clearly established.

Attribution
  • This information is based on a systematic review of scientific literature edited and peer-reviewed by contributors to the Natural Standard Research Collaboration (www.naturalstandard.com).

Bibliography
  1. Chadwick LR, Nikolic D, Burdette JE, et al. Estrogens and congeners from spent hops (). J Nat Prod 2004;67(12):2024-32.
  2. Erkkola R, Vervarcke S, Vansteelandt S, et al. A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, cross-over pilot study on the use of a standardized hop extract to alleviate menopausal discomforts. Phytomedicine 2010;17(6):389-396.
  3. Estrada JL, Gozalo F, Cecchini C, et al. Contact urticaria from hops () in a patient with previous urticaria-angioedema from peanut, chestnut and banana. Contact Dermatitis 2002;46(2):127.
  4. Foster BC, Arnason JT, Saleem A, et al. Comparative study of hops-containing products on human cytochrome P450-mediated metabolism. J Agric Food Chem 2011;59(9):5159-5163.
  5. Heyerick A, Vervarcke S, Depypere H, et al. A first prospective, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study on the use of a standardized hop extract to alleviate menopausal discomforts. Maturitas 2006;54(2):164-75.
  6. Lopez-Jaen AB, Codoñer-Franch P, Martínez-Álvarez JR, et al. Effect on health of non-alcohol beer and hop supplementation in a group of nuns in a closed order. Proceedings of the Nutrition Society 2010;69(OCE3):26.
  7. Lukaczer D, Darland G, Tripp M, et al. A pilot trial evaluating Meta050, a proprietary combination of reduced iso-alpha acids, rosemary extract and oleanolic acid in patients with arthritis and fibromyalgia. Phytother Res 2005;19(10):864-9.
  8. Morali G, Polatti F, Metelitsa EN, et al. Open, non-controlled clinical studies to assess the efficacy and safety of a medical device in form of gel topically and intravaginally used in postmenopausal women with genital atrophy. Arzneimittelforschung 2006;56(3):230-8.
  9. Morin CM, Koetter U, Bastien C, et al. Valerian-hops combination and diphenhydramine for treating insomnia: a randomized placebo-controlled clinical trial. Sleep 2005;28(11):1465-71.
  10. Possemiers S, Bolca S, Grootaert C, et al. The prenylflavonoid isoxanthohumol from hops ( L.) is activated into the potent phytoestrogen 8-prenylnaringenin in vitro and in the human intestine. J Nutr 2006;136(7):1862-7.
  11. Schellenberg R, Sauer S, Abourashed EA, et al. The fixed combination of valerian and hops (Ze91019) acts via a central adenosine mechanism. Planta Med 2004;70(7):594-7.
  12. Stevens JF, Page JE. Xanthohumol and related prenylflavonoids from hops and beer: to your good health! Phytochemistry 2004;65(10):1317-30.
  13. Sun J. Morning/evening menopausal formula relieves menopausal symptoms: a pilot study. J Altern Complement Med 2003;9(3):403-9.
  14. Wang YJ, Dou J, Cross KP,et al. Computational analysis for hepatic safety signals of constituents present in botanical extracts widely used by women in the United States for treatment of menopausal symptoms. Regul Toxicol Pharmacol 2011;59(1):111-124.
  15. Yajima H, Ikeshima E, Shiraki M, et al. Isohumulones, bitter acids derived from hops, activate both peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor alpha and gamma and reduce insulin resistance. J Biol Chem 2004;279(32):33456-62.

Copyright © 2011 Natural Standard (www.naturalstandard.com)

The information in this monograph is intended for informational purposes only, and is meant to help users better understand health concerns. Information is based on review of scientific research data, historical practice patterns, and clinical experience. This information should not be interpreted as specific medical advice. Users should consult with a qualified healthcare provider for specific questions regarding therapies, diagnosis and/or health conditions, prior to making therapeutic decisions.
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