Humulus japonicus, known as Japanese hop, synonym H. scandens, is an ornamental plant in the family Cannabaceae.

Originally native to East Asian countries such as China, Japan, Korea, and extending its habitat to Vietnam, it was imported to North America in the late 19th century as an ornamental. Since its arrival in North America, it has spread widely. It can be found throughout the Northeastern U.S. and eastern Canada, and considered an invasive species in North America.

humulus japonicus

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Author: Elena Marinova, Master of Pharmacy

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You drink some beer and become sleepy... Why is that? In the article you will find the answer to this question, as well as useful information about the of the plant Humulus lupulus (ordinary hops), which has many valuable qualities.

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What Is Hops And Which Part of It We Use

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Humulus lupulusis a perennial herbaceous plant of the Cannabaceae family. It has a long creeping rhizome, and its stem is rough and has spikes that serve to attach. The female cone-shaped inflorescences are composed of many scales, on the inner surface of which there are essential oil glands (Glandulae Lupuli, Lupulinum).

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There are several representatives of the hops genus: ordinary hops (Humulus lupulus), Japanese hops (Humulus japonicus) and Humulus yunnanensis. The female inflorescences of ordinary hops are used, which contain important biologically active substances. They are collected at the end of summer when they begin to ripen (they should be of green color with a slight yellow shade).

Applications-of-Hops

Applications of Hops

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Hops has many different applications. Here are what they are:

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<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">In the brewing industry - the production of beer is of great economic importance and is growing more and more. Beer is an alcoholic beverage and is made from barley, hops, water and brewers yeast. Each of these ingredients is important for the quality of beer and has a beneficial effect on the human body. Now we will focus on hops, which gives the aroma and the specific bitter taste of beer.</li>
</ul>

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<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">In the pharmaceutical industry - hops is part of the composition of many herbal medicinal products and dietary supplements to improve the state of the nervous system and sleep. In recent years, many studies have been done on other important properties of hops - antitumor, antioxidant, estrogen-like, anti-inflammatory and others, which you will find in this article. </li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">In folk medicine - to strengthen hair, in acne, to improve the condition of the urinary system, in inflammatory disease, to increase the size of breasts, to prepare aromatic pillows from hops for relief.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Cooking - hops can be used to prepare delicious appetizers, dishes, and even desserts. It is important to be careful with its bitter taste.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Cosmetics - hops enter the composition of face masks and many hair products.</li>
</ul>

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Beneficial Effects of Hops in Menopause and Postmenopause

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The biologically active substances flavonoids are isolated from the female inflorescences of hops. A representative of this group is 8-prenylnaringenin. This is one of the strongest phytoestrogens known to date. Phytoestrogens are substances derived from plants.

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Their structure resembles the female sex hormone - estrogen, therefore they have estrogen-like action. Therefore, 8-prenylnaringenin (as a phytoestrogen) is widely used in menopause and postmenopause to prevent and treat osteoporosis and to relieve some symptoms such as hot flashes. <a href="https://www.bioseek.eu/en/eng/research/pubmed/Xanthohumol_and_related_prenylflavonoids_from_hops_and_beer_to_your_good_health_15231405" target="_blank" rel="noopener">[ref.1.]</a>

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Which Herbs Improve Bone Strength in Osteoporosis

You can read more about osteoporosis in the article .

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Which Herbs Are Effective Against The Symptoms of Menopause According to Science

Read more about menopause in the article .

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Sedative Effect of Hops

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This effect is observed in many beer lovers - you drink one or two beers and you get sleepy. The reason for this is again the hops and in particular the bitter resins (α - acids) contained in the female inflorescences. The mechanism consists in increasing the activity of the neurotransmitter GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acid, a transmitter of nerve impulses). This suppresses the central nervous system (CNS). Therefore, soft beer is recommended to help sleep. <a href="https://www.bioseek.eu/en/eng/research/pubmed/The_sedative_effects_of_hops_Humulus_lupulus_a_component_of_beer_on_the_activity_rest_rhythm_22849837" target="_blank" rel="noopener">[ref.2.]</a>

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Very common is the combination of valeriana and hops. It has been shown that an extract of a combination of the two herbs binds to specific sites - adenosine receptors in the CNS. This induces and maintains sleep. <a href="https://www.bioseek.eu/en/eng/research/pubmed/The_fixed_combination_of_valerian_and_hops_Ze91019_acts_via_a_central_adenosine_mechanism_15254851" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> [ref.3.]</a>

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 Anxiety and Insomnia - What Nature Has To Offer

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Prevention of Cancer

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A very important issue in health studies is the detection, study and use of chemotherapeutics (substances that help treat tumors) and chemoprophylaxis (substances that prevent / reduce the likelihood of tumors).

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Xanthohumol, which is extracted from hops, has been shown to have such properties. This biologically active substance is chalcone - a type of flavonoid. It is formed in the lupulin glands by a specialized branch of the biosynthesis of flavonoids.

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Xanthohumol has a wide spectrum in terms of blocking the main stages of carcinogenesis (the process of tumor formation). Suppression of the ingenuity of cancer cells is due to the ability of the substance to cause apoptosis (programmed cell death) and cell differentiation and blockage of DNA synthesis. <a href="https://www.bioseek.eu/en/eng/research/pubmed/Cancer_chemopreventive_activity_of_Xanthohumol_a_natural_product_derived_from_hop_12481418" target="_blank" rel="noopener">[ref.4.]</a>

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Useful Properties of Nettle and Does It Have The Potential To Fight Cancer

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Antioxidant Action of Hops

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Excessive accumulation of free radicals in the body leads to the onset of oxidative stress, as a result of which mutagens are formed. They play a key role in the occurrence of tumor disease. Substances that fight off free radicals are called antioxidants. Antioxidant action of hops extract is also due to xanthohumol. It defuses hydroxide and peroxide radicals, inhibits the production of superoxide anionic radical. <a href="https://www.bioseek.eu/en/eng/research/pubmed/Synthesis_cytotoxicity_and_antioxidative_activity_of_minor_prenylated_chalcones_from_Humulus_lupulus_18611049" target="_blank" rel="noopener">[ref.5.]</a>

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 What Are The Benefits of Antioxidants For Health And Which Foods Are Richest to Them

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Other Healing Properties of Hops

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This does not exhaust all the useful properties of hops. Here we will look at a few more of them:

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<ul>
<li>anti-inflammatory action - due to xanthohumol, which is contained in the female inflorescences of hops. This substance inhibits two important enzymes (cyclooxygenase 1 and 2) that are involved in the mechanism of inflammation <a href="https://www.bioseek.eu/en/eng/research/pubmed/Cancer_chemopreventive_activity_of_Xanthohumol_a_natural_product_derived_from_hop_12481418" target="_blank" rel="noopener">[ref.4.]</a>;</li>
</ul>

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<ul>
<li>diuretic action - due to the high content of flavonoids. Due to this action, hop cones are used in cystitis and other diseases of the genitourinary system;</li>
<li>antiseptic and appetizing - due to the essential oils of the group of sesquiterpenes (humulene and farnesene);</li>
<li>antibacterial action;</li>
<li>antifungal action;</li>
</ul>

Some-Recipes-With-Hops---Beauty,-Health-and-Appetite

Some Recipes With Hops - Beauty, Health and Appetite

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Healing oil for hair growth

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The oil is obtained from the female inflorescences of hops and helps significantly to activate hair growth. It is sold as a finished product, but before application should be warmed in a water bath. It is then rubbed into the roots of the hair and can spread along its entire length for shine and beauty.

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Hops infusion in acne

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Place 1 tbsp crushed hop cones in 250 ml of boiling water. The process lasts 3 hours, after which the product is filtered. The resulting infusion is applied on the face and neck in the morning and evening, with the help of a swab.

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Anti-aging skin mask

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Necessary ingredients:

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<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">2 tbsp of fresh hops cones</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">1 tsp of honey</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">1/2 tbsp of olive oil</li>
</ul>

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Grind the hop cones carefully, then add the remaining ingredients. The resulting mixture is applied for 15 minutes on the face and neck, then rinsed with lukewarm water.

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Decoction of hops for internal use

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1 tbsp. from the hop cones grind and add to boiling water (250 ml). The mixture is left for about an hour in a thermos, then filtered. The resulting infusion should be drunk in one day in small sips.

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This decoction is applied to problems and inflammations of the genitourinary system, to relieve some of the symptoms (for example, "hot flushes") in the period of menopause, for sedation.

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Contraindications: pregnancy and lactation, hypersensitivity to hops, in the presence of a disease for which an increase in female sex hormones is contraindicated (because phytoestrogens are contained in hops).

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Leaven from hops for pancakes

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Necessary products:

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<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">1/2 litre of water</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">3 tbsp of hops</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">1 tsp of honey or sugar</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">flour (rye or wheat)</li>
</ul>

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Boil the water and add the hops for 15 minutes. Strain, cool the resulting mixture and add honey or sugar to it. After stirring, add the flour until a thick mixture is produced. Leave the mixture in a warm place for a day. It should increase its volume 2-3 times, and the resulting leaven is stored in a refrigerator.

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Summer is coming, and beer is a good choice for a cool drink, especially when we know that the hops contained in it is so useful. :)

Healing Properties of Hops - The Essential Ingredient of Beer

https://d20hztklr4qnvi.cloudfront.net/6a071f3f-ae15-4552-940d-5747577e3bf9_middle.jpg

 Healing Properties of Hops - The Essential Ingredient of Beer

Elena Marinova

Text adaptation: Rositsa Tashkova, Master of Molecular Biology and Microbiology

The Persian Empire is one of the largest&nbsp;known in world history, encompassing the lands located on the Iranian Plateau – Asia Minor – Egypt and Europe. It is the predecessor of Iran. The great kings of the ancient Persian kingdom belonged to the Achaemenid dynasty (648 - 330 BC), and according to mythology, its founder was Achaemenus, who is considered the son of Perseus.

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The most famous Persian doctor, Abu Ali Al-Hussein Ibn Abdallah Ibn Sina, aka Avicenna, was the first person in medical history to use the term "epilepsy", meaning "possessed by an external force" in Latin.

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He is the author of 40 books in the field of medicine, including the most influential work of his time - "The Canon of Medicine". This medical encyclopedia collects and systematizes all knowledge up to that time and becomes a standard medical textbook for many universities in Asia and Europe. It was used until the middle of the 17th century.

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This article is based on a 2014 scientific publication&nbsp;[<a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1059131114000260" target="_blank" rel="noopener">ref.1</a>], in which the most significant herbs and medicinal plants used in Ancient Persia in epilepsy sufferers were studied and collected. The intersections and potential applications of these plants in modern medicine are sought, especially as anticonvulsants (suppressing convulsions characteristic of the disease).

French-lavender-(Lavandula-stoechas)-against-convulsions

French lavender (Lavandula stoechas) against convulsions

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The effects of the water-methanol extract of French lavender flowers on epilepsy and spasms in mice have been investigated. The results show that it significantly delays the appearance of the first seizures and reduces the severity of convulsions in these laboratory animals. Possible explanations of these results may be the role of the plant extract as a calcium channel blocker. [<a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0378874199001981?via%3Dihub" target="_blank" rel="noopener">ref.2</a>]

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Marjoram-(Origanum-majorana)-reduces-the-duration-of-seizures

Marjoram (Origanum majorana) reduces the duration of seizures

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The antiepileptic and sedative properties of various extracts from the aerial parts of majorana in rodents have been studied and all extracts have been found to slow down the onset and reduce the duration of seizures. The main compound responsible for the activity of the plant has been identified and it's called ursolic acid. [<a href="https://scholarcommons.usf.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1079&amp;context=intmed_facpub" target="_blank" rel="noopener">ref.3</a>]

Coriander-(Coriandrum-sativum)-seed-extracts

Coriander (Coriandrum sativum) seed extracts

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Coriander is also known as Chinese parsley or cilantro. Aqueous and ethanolic coriander seed extracts were tested on mice and the results showed that both extracts had anticonvulsant effect. Scientists suggest that the effect may partly be due to coumarin compounds isolated from this plant. [<a href="https://vlibrary.emro.who.int/imemr/anticonvulsant-effects-of-coriandrum-sativum-l-seed-extracts-in-mice/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">ref.4]</a>

Dodder-(Cuscuta-epithymum)

Dodder (Cuscuta epithymum)

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The plant is also known as lesser dodder, hellweed, strangle-tare. The anticonvulsant activity of water-alcohol extract from the dodder plant was investigated using a PTZ test inmice. The results show that at a dose of 100 mg/kg, the extract significantly increased seizure latency and survival rates, but no significant effect on the duration of convulsions was observed. [<a href="https://www.sid.ir/en/journal/ViewPaper.aspx?id=76824" target="_blank" rel="noopener">ref.5</a>]

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Common-peony-(Paeonia-officinalis)-for-neuron-protection

Common peony (Paeonia officinalis) for neuron protection

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The effects of peony root extract on rats have been studied in laboratory conditions and it has been found to severely inhibit damage to neurons in the animal's hippocampus. Data show that peony root extract has excellent protective effects on damaged neurons in addition to anticonvulsant action when administered orally. [<a href="https://www.bioseek.eu/en/eng/research/pubmed/Protective_effects_of_peony_root_extract_and_its_components_on_neuron_damage_in_the_hippocampus_induced_by_the_cobalt_focus_epilepsy_model_9270063" target="_blank" rel="noopener">ref.6</a>]

White-bryony-or-wild-hop-(Bryonia-alba)

White bryony or wild hop (Bryonia alba)

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The herb is also known as false mandrake, English mandrake, wild vine, wild nep, tamus, ladies' seal, and tetterbury. The ethanol extract from the aerial parts of the plant shows a moderate affinity for the benzodiazepine region of the GABA receptor, and it is the main goal in the treatment of epilepsy - the goal is to suppress convulsions. The application of aqueous extracts does not have the same effect. [<a href="https://www.bioseek.eu/en/eng/research/pubmed/Screening_of_plants_used_in_Danish_folk_medicine_to_treat_epilepsy_and_convulsions_16293381" target="_blank" rel="noopener">ref.7</a>]

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Deodar-cedar-(Cedrus-deodara)-reduces-duration-of-seizures

Deodar cedar (Cedrus deodara) reduces duration of seizures

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This tree is also known as Himalayan cedar, or deodar/ devdar/ devadar/ devadaru. The effect of alcohol extract of Himalayan cedar wood on rodents has been studied. Results show that in certain concentrations the extract significantly slows down the onset and duration of seizures and acts sedatively by modulating GABA levels in the brain depending on the dose. [<a href="https://academicjournals.org/journal/JMPR/article-full-text-pdf/2D1720016676" target="_blank" rel="noopener">ref.8</a>]

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The described studies have been carried out on laboratory animals, but they give hope for future use and in patients suffering from epilepsy.

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This information is an interesting illustration of the bridges that exist between folk medicine and modernscience. In the future, a treatment of the disease could be developed that is more gentle than currently available, based on these plants and their active substances.

humulus japonicus

Epilepsy in Ancient Persia - which medicinal plants they used to treat seizures