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Atlas of Autofluorescence in Plant Pharmaceutical Materials
Published in Victoria Vladimirovna Roshchina, Fluorescence of Living Plant Cells for Phytomedicine Preparations, 2020
Victoria Vladimirovna Roshchina
Hop, Humulus lupulus L., is used as a natural sedative drug to calm the nerves and reduce stress and anxiety (Duke 2002; Chadwick et al. 2006; Murav’eva et al. 2007; Efremov 2014). It has anticancer effects (Fang and Ng 2013) and demonstrates estrogenic properties (Chadwick et al. 2006). For centuries, this plant has been used to reduce nervous tension or to promote a good night’s rest by counteracting the effects of sleeplessness and insomnia. Moreover, it is also well known as the preservative and flavor used to make beer. There is a good publication about secretory structures (Melnychuk et al. 2013), in which channels of the schizogenous-lysigenous type, active during the stage of rapid shoot growth, have been discovered. Most information about the cultivation and use of hops is concentrated in a special atlas devoted to the species (Melnichuk et al. 2014).
Herbs with Antidepressant Effects
Published in Scott Mendelson, Herbal Treatment of Major Depression, 2019
Humulus lupulus, the flowers of which are known as hops, is a perennial plant in the hemp family (Cannabinaceae) that is native to the temperate zones of Europe, Asia, and the Americas. It is best known for its use in the brewing of beer. It lends a hearty, bitter flavor to the beverage and serves as a preservative owing to its antimicrobial properties. However, Humulus lupulus has also been used for centuries as a medicinal herb. Reports on the medicinal uses of Humulus lupulus date back to the Middle Ages. The oldest report may be an eleventh century book by the Arabic physician Mesue, who described anti-inflammatory properties of Humulus lupulus. In the thirteenth century, the Arabic botanist Ibn Al-Baytar noted soothing effects of the herb. Among the phytochemicals identified in Humulus lupulus are xanthohumol, humulone, cohumulone, adhumulone, lupulone, colupulone, adlupulone, catechin, quercetin, kaempferol, desmethylxanthohumol, 6-prenylnaringenin, 8-prenylnaringenin, ferulic acid, and resveratrol.1
Ethnobotany of Useful Plant Species in North Western Himalaya, India
Published in T. Pullaiah, K. V. Krishnamurthy, Bir Bahadur, Ethnobotany of India, 2017
A. Rajasekaran, Joginder Singh, S. P. Subramani, Shalu Devi
Humulus lupulus commonly known as Hops is a species of flowering plant in the Cannabaceae family, native to Europe, western Asia and North America. Hops have emerged as one of the main cash crops of the area and are being cultivated in Lahaul Valley of Himachal Pradesh. The female flower clusters, commonly known as cones or strobili are primarily used as a flavoring and stability agent in beer.
Sleep-promoting activity of lotus (Nelumbo nucifera) rhizome water extract via GABAA receptors
Published in Pharmaceutical Biology, 2022
Yejin Ahn, Singeun Kim, Chunwoong Park, Jung Eun Kim, Hyung Joo Suh, Kyungae Jo
Medicinal herbs are the most common alternatives for improving sleep disorders. They have been used for many years, have fewer side effects, and are considered safe. Herbs that have shown to improve sleep disorders through oral administration include ashwagandha [Withania somnifera L. Dunal (Solanaceae)], hops [Humulus lupulus L. (Cannabinaceae)], lemon balm [Melissa officinalis L. (Lamiaceae)], German chamomile [Matricaria recutita L. (Asteraceae)], valerian [Valeriana officinalis L. (Valerianaceae)] and lettuce [Lactuca sativa L. (Asteraceae)] (Kim et al. 2018; Borras et al. 2021; Jo et al. 2021a). Additionally, sleep-promoting and sedative effects of essential oil from leaves of Dysphania ambrosioides L. (Amaranthaceae) (Dougnon and Ito 2021) and Pogostemon cablin Benth. (Lamiaceae) (Ito et al. 2016), respectively, via inhalation, have been reported. The sedative effect of methanol extract of Dorstenia arifolia Lam. (Moraceae) was also confirmed through intraperitoneal injection in a mouse model (Zapata-Sudo et al. 2010). Therefore, these results suggest that herbal medicines can exhibit beneficial effects through various routes such as oral, inhalation and intraperitoneal.
Moderate Beer Consumption Modifies Tumoral Growth Parameters and Pyrrolidone Carboxypeptidase Type-I and Type-II Specific Activities in the Hypothalamus-Pituitary-Mammary Gland Axis in an Animal Model of Breast Cancer
Published in Nutrition and Cancer, 2021
María Jesús Ramirez-Expósito, José Manuel Martínez-Martos, Vanesa Cantón-Habas, María del Pilar Carrera-González
Beer is one of the most consumed alcoholic beverages, being the third among general drinks. Currently, multiple types of beer exist, differentiated by the ingredients used and the brewing processes performed. However, the addition of hops (Humulus lupulus) improves its flavor and gives it a protective effect derived from its reducing capacity of pH and antibacterial activity (23–26). Moreover, beer also contains phenolic compounds as secondary metabolites of plants which contribute to its color and aroma. These components also show antioxidant properties (27,28). In the last few years, the beneficial effects of beer compounds on human health have received special attention from the scientific community. Not only the antioxidant but also the anti-inflammatory, anticancer, estrogenic, and even antiviral properties associated with beer intake have been described to be associated with these phenolic compounds (29–31). Specifically, xanthohumol seems to exert anticancer chemopreventive activity in the early stages of the carcinogenic process (28,32) in in vitro experiments (33–35). Conversely, compounds like 8-prenylnaringenin (8-PN) have been described as one of the most potent isolated phytoestrogens (36,37). The administration of 8-PN represents a novel therapeutic approach to the treatment of menopausal and post-menopausal symptoms that occur as a consequence of a progressive decline in hormone levels (38), but it could also interfere in hormone-dependent diseases such as breast cancer.
Diet and nutrients in the modulation of infant sleep: A review of the literature
Published in Nutritional Neuroscience, 2018
Nora Schneider, Gisella Mutungi, Javier Cubero
These neurotransmitter systems are also target of pharmacotreatment in pediatric insomnia. The main drugs used in pediatric insomnia include antihistamines, benzodiazepines, melatonin, clonidine and herbal supplements.37 While antihistamines act as histamine receptor antagonists in the central nervous system (CNS) and reducing sleep latency as well as night awakenings, benzodiazepines are GABA receptor agonists, hence inducing a sedative effect. Clonidine blocks the release of adrenaline, the main excitatory neurotransmitter in the CNS, therefore reducing sleep latency, increasing NREM sleep and decreasing REM sleep.37 In addition, herbal supplements with soothing and sedative properties are used; these include valerian root (Valeriana officinalis), lemon balm (Melisa officinalis), chamomile (Matricaria chamomilla), tila (Tilia platyphillos) teas3839–40 and another possibility could be hops (Humulus lupulus).41,42 It should be noted that their effectiveness on child sleep has not been clinically proved.