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Bioindicator plants for ambient ozone in Central and Eastern Europe.

Sixteen species of native detector plants for ambient ozone have been identified for use in Central and Eastern Europe. They include the forbs Alchemilla sp., Astrantia major, Centuarea nigra, Centauria scabiosa, Impatiens parviflora, Lapsana communis, Rumex acetosa and Senecio subalpinus; the shrubs Corylus avellana, Cornus sanguinea and Sambucus racemosa; the trees Alnus incana, Pinus cembra and Sorbus aucuparia; and the vines Humulus lupulus and Parthenocissus quinquefolia. Sensitivity to ozone and symptoms have been verified under controlled exposure conditions. Under these conditions, symptom incidence, intensity and appearance often changed with time after removal from exposure chambers. Ozone sensitivity for four species: Astrantia major, Centuarea nigra, C. scabiosa and Humulus lupulus are reported here for the first time. The other 12 species have also been confirmed by others in Western Europe. It is recommended that these detector bioindicator species be used in conjunction with ozone monitors and passive samplers so that injury symptoms incidence can be used to give biological significance to monitored ambient ozone data.

Air Pollution↗

[Marked increase of atmospheric pollen dispersion of ragweed (Ambrosia spp.)--annual changes in atmospheric pollen counts of major allergen plants in autumn in Saitama Prefecture].

An annual atmospheric pollen survey was performed for 14 consecutive years in the autumn at Sakado city, Saitama prefecture. The survey was performed on the transition of pollen dispersion of major allergen plants: ragweed (Ambrosia spp.), Humulus japonicus, Artemisia spp. and Gramineae. 1. Annual total pollen count of ragweed showed marked increases beginning from 1991. Total pollen count in 1991 was 8.8 times and that in 1996 was 18.6 times that in 1983. This increase is probably caused by marked proliferation of giant ragweed which is left without mowing as it is on a dry riverbed, and consequently produces much more pollen than short ragweed. 2. Annual increases in total pollen counts of other major plants which disperse their pollen in the same season as ragweed were 0.95 times in 1991 and 0.5 times in 1996 that in 1983 for Humulus japonicus, 0.68 times in 1991 and 1.5 times in 1996 that in 1983 for Artemisia spp. and 1.3 times in 1991 and 1.4 times in 1996 that in 1983 for Gramineae. None of these species showed a marked increase of pollen dispersion although they showed some annual variation. The above findings suggest that changes in the proliferous state of various allergenic plants due to environmental change should be considered with respect to characteristics of pollen allergy.

Air Pollution↗

Insights into glandular trichome biology from analysis of organ-specific gene expression programmes in cannabis, hop and tomato.

Glandular trichomes (GTs) are epidermal outgrowths in which diverse specialised (secondary) metabolites are synthesised and stored. Cannabis (Cannabis sativa L.) and its close relative hop (Humulus lupulus L.) have pharmaceutical and industrial significance due to the presence of these metabolites in their GTs. We examined the conservation or divergence of the specific transcriptional programmes underlying GT biology. To achieve this, we generated transcriptome atlases of trichomes, flower, leaf, stem and root for cannabis, hop and tomato. We found that 12.9, 10.1 and 16.8% of cannabis, hop and tomato genes, respectively, were expressed organ/tissue specifically across all organs/tissues. Transcription factors (TFs) on average accounted for 7.5% of the organ-specific transcriptome and likely regulate organ-specific functions. We also conducted weighted gene co-expression network analysis and gene regulatory network (GRN) analysis to identify key regulators of GT function across the species and validated our predictions by DNA affinity purification sequencing for a subset of the cannabis and tomato GT TFs. The GRNs specific to cannabis or hop GTs were enriched for TFs and target genes associated with specialised metabolism, reflecting their species-specific nature. Conversely, the shared GRN components (identified via orthology analysis) were involved in highly conserved processes, such as flavonoid biosynthesis, solute transport and metabolite storage. Together, these GRNs and the associated transcriptome atlases are valuable resources to improve our knowledge of GT function and organ-specific genome regulation.

Solanum lycopersicum↗

Synthesis of demethylxanthohumol, a new potent apoptosis-inducing agent from hops.

Starting from commercially available phloracetophenone (= 1-(2,4,6-trihydroxyphenyl)ethanone), we synthesized demethylxanthohumol (4), a derivative of xanthohumol, devoid of 6'-O-methyl group. Both are prenylchalcones derived from hops (Humulus lupulus). The synthesis was accomplished by an aldol condensation between MOM-protected acetophenone 2 and MOM-protected benzaldehyde 3. The resulting demethylxanthohumol (4) displayed antiproliferative properties. Demethylxanthohumol (4) induced also apoptosis via the mitochondrial pathway in BJAB cells (Burkitt lymphoma cell line) and in primary lymphoblasts of childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL).

Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic↗

Xanthohumol stimulates iodide uptake in rat thyroid-derived FRTL-5 cells.

Sodium-iodide-symporter (NIS), an integral plasma membrane glycoprotein, mediates the sodium-dependent active uptake of iodide (I(-)) into the thyroid gland, which is a fundamental step in thyroid hormone synthesis. In this work, we analyzed the influence of xanthohumol (XN), a prenylated chalcone from hops (Humulus lupulus L.), on the I(-) uptake in a cell culture model of normal, nontransformed rat thyrocytes (FRTL-5). Acute treatment with nanomolar concentrations of XN does not influence I(-) uptake, but after 2 and 3-days of XN stimulation an increase in I(-) uptake was observed; I(-) uptake was maximally increased by 50% compared to control after 3-days of XN stimulation at 1 nM. A clear time-dependent stimulation was observed which showed no marked concentration relationship, however. To investigate whether expression of NIS mRNA is also increased, we grew FRTL-5 cells for 3-days in a medium containing increasing concentrations of XN (0.1 nM-1 muM). Northern blot analysis showed no difference in NIS mRNA transcript levels between control cells and those treated with different concentrations of XN. This study revealed that nanomolar concentrations of XN, a unique compound with anticancer properties, exert stimulating effects on radioiodide uptake. In contrast to many other plant-derived phenolic secondary metabolites such as (iso-)flavonoids, which inhibit I(-) uptake, XN might be an interesting candidate for more efficient radioiodide therapy of thyroid and perhaps other cancer expressing NIS such as breast cancer.

Animals↗

Xanthohumol induces apoptosis in cultured 40-16 human colon cancer cells by activation of the death receptor- and mitochondrial pathway.

Xanthohumol (XN) is one of the major prenylflavonoids found in hop cones (Humulus lupulus L.). In this study, we investigated the cell growth inhibitory potential of XN on cultured human colon cancer cells. Cell proliferation was measured by sulforhodamine B staining. Poly(ADP-ribose)polymerase (PARP) cleavage, activation of caspases-3, -7, -8, and -9, and Bcl-2 family protein expression were detected by Western blot analyses. XN significantly reduced proliferation of the HCT 116-derived colon cancer cell line 40--16. Half-maximal inhibitory concentrations decreased from 4.1 microM after 24 h treatment to 3.6 and 2.6 microM after 48 and 72 h incubation, respectively. Treatment with 15 microM XN for 48 h and with 5 microM for 72 h led to the detection of the cleaved 89 kDa fragment of 116 kDa PARP as an indication of apoptosis induction. Concomitantly, we observed activation and cleavage of the effector caspases-3 and -7, induced by activation of the initiator caspases -8 and -9. Expression of anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 was down regulated when the cells were treated with XN for 48--72 h. We conclude that induction of apoptosis by downregulation of Bcl-2 and activation of the caspase cascade may contribute to the chemopreventive or therapeutic potential of XN.

Apoptosis↗

Behavioural response of Colorado potato beetle (Leptinotarsa decemlineata) larvae to selected plant extracts.

Potato leaves were treated with 2, 20 or 200 g kg(-1) solutions of extracts of five plant species collected in Turkey, and then exposed to larvae of Colorado potato beetle, Leptinotarsa decemlineata (Say). During the first 24 h of exposure, leaf consumption was not affected by 2 g kg(-1) extracts, whereas significantly more leaf tissue remained on leaves treated with 20 g kg(-1) extracts of Arctium lappa L., Bifora radians M Bieb, Humulus lupulus L. or Xanthium strumarium L. than on untreated control leaves. Feeding was not affected by the 20 g kg(-1) extract of Verbascum songaricum Schrenk ex Fisch & Mey. Extracts of all species at 200 g kg(-1) reduced larval feeding, with H. lupulus and X. strumarium providing the greatest protection. Observations of larval behaviour over the first 15 min of exposure to these extracts revealed that the interaction of beetles with leaf tissue was significantly affected by plant extracts. Feeding frequency was not affected by 2 g kg(-1) extracts but was reduced by all higher concentrations. Feeding was inhibited completely by 20 g kg(-1) of H. lupulus extract and reduced significantly compared with the controls by all other extracts. Suppression of feeding was caused by all extracts at 200 g kg(-1), with V. songaricum providing 91% reduction in feeding duration. Rejection behaviour, in which larvae did not return to the leaf after their interaction with it, was rare on 2 g kg(-1) extracts but seen in over 60% of larvae on 20 g kg(-1) extracts and over 80% on 200 g kg(-1) extracts. The present results demonstrate that these extracts have significant ability to protect potato leaves for up to 24 h by prevention of feeding behaviour by L. decemlineata. Further studies are needed to determine the potential of these plant extracts, or their active components, for use in biologically based pest management strategies.

Animals↗

Xanthohumol, a prenylflavonoid derived from hops induces apoptosis and inhibits NF-kappaB activation in prostate epithelial cells.

There is increasing evidence that certain natural compounds found in plants may be useful as cancer chemopreventive or chemotherapeutic agents. Limited in vitro studies indicate that several prenylated flavonoids present in the hop plant (Humulus lupulus) possess anticarcinogenic properties. The purpose of this study was to investigate the anti-tumorigenic effects of xanthohumol (XN), the major prenylflavonoid in hops, on prostate cancer and benign prostate hyperplasia. BPH-1 and PC3 cell lines were used in our study to represent both non-tumorigenic hyperplasia and malignant prostate cancer. In both BPH-1 and PC3 cells, XN and its oxidation product, XAL, decreased cell viability in a dose dependent manner (2.5-20 microM) as determined by MTT assay and caused an increase in the formation of early and late apoptotic cells as determined by Annexin V staining and multicaspase assays. XN and its oxygenated derivative also induced cell cycle changes in both cells lines, seen in an elevated sub G1 peak at 48h treatment. Western blot analysis was performed to confirm the activation of proapoptotic proteins, Bax and p53. XN and its derivative caused decreased activation of NFkappaB. This work suggests that XN and its oxidation product, XAL, may be potentially useful as a chemopreventive agent during prostate hyperplasia and prostate carcinogenesis, acting via induction of apoptosis and down-regulation of NFkappaB activation in BPH-1 cells.

Apoptosis↗

Direct characterization of bitter acids in a crude hop extract by liquid chromatography-atmospheric pressure chemical ionization mass spectrometry.

The applicability of on-line coupling of reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography to atmospheric pressure ionization tandem mass spectrometry for the separation and characterization of hop acids mixture from the crude extract of Humulus lupulus was investigated. The solvent system consisting of acetonitrile-aqueous formic acid was used to give proper separation of the six main hop bitter acids within 30 min. Further structural information about the components was acquired by collision-induced dissociation (CID). On the basis of analyses of the fragmentation patterns of the major alpha- and beta-bitter acids respectively, identification of the minor ones was performed using selected reaction monitoring (SRM) with a group of qualitatively relevant selected precursor-product ion transitions for each bitter acid in a single high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) run. Using this technique, six minor hop acids, including "adprelupulone" observed for the first time in natural resources, were detected along with the six major acids. This hyphenated techniques provides potency for rapid qualitative determination of analogs and homologs in mixtures.

Acids↗

Evidence that the beta-acids fraction of hops reduces central GABAergic neurotransmission.

Humulus lupulus (hops) is traditionally used as a tranquilizing herbal remedy. Here, we investigated the in vivo and in vitro effect of hop beta-acids on central nervous system function. Oral administration of beta-acids (5-10mg/kg) in rats produced an increased exploratory activity in the open field, a reduction in the pentobarbital hypnotic activity and a worsening of picrotoxin-induced seizures. When dosed at 10mg/kg, beta-acids increased, in the elevated plus maze, open arm entries reducing in parallel those in closed arms. In the forced swimming test, we observed a reduction in the immobility time that could suggest an antidepressant-like activity. Electrophysiological studies performed on cerebellar granule cells in culture showed that the beta-acids fraction decreased GABA-evoked current in a dose-dependent way. The effect was not inhibited by the benzodiazepine antagonist Ro 15-1788. Benzodiazepine receptors involvement was also excluded by [(3)H]-Ro 15-1788 binding assay. In conclusion, the behavioral effects of beta-acids fraction could be explained by a reduction in the GABAergic activity although we cannot rule out the involvement of other neurotransmitter systems.

Animals↗

Assessment of genetic and epigenetic variation in hop plants regenerated from sequential subcultures of organogenic calli.

Organogenic calli induced from internodal segments were subcultured three times. Regenerated plants obtained from each subculture were analysed by molecular methods. No major genetic rearrangements were detected in the callus-derived plants since none of the amplified fragment-length polymorphism (AFLP) loci were found to be polymorphic. However, epigenetic changes due to a demethylation process were detected by methylation-sensitive amplified polymorphism (MSAP) technique. The results allowed inference of the possible relationship among the plants derived from different calli subcultures and the in vitro control. The plants recovered from the first and second callus subcultures clustered with the in vitro control pools in the phenogram while the regenerants from the third callus subculture showed the highest genetic distance with the controls. This is the first study reporting data about the genetic stability of callus-derived Humulus lupulus L. plants.

DNA Methylation↗

A first prospective, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study on the use of a standardized hop extract to alleviate menopausal discomforts.

OBJECTIVES: To examine the efficacy of a hop extract enriched in 8-prenylnaringenin (8-PN, the phytoestrogen in hops, Humulus lupulus L.) on relief of menopausal discomforts. METHODS: A prospective, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study over 12 weeks with 67 menopausal women, who were administered a hop extract standardized on 8-PN (100 or 250 microg). The responses were determined by means of a modified Kupperman index (KI) and a patients' questionnaire. RESULTS: All groups, including placebo, showed a significant reduction of the KI both after 6 weeks and after 12 weeks. The hop extract at 100 microg 8-PN was significantly superior to placebo after 6 weeks (P=0.023) but not after 12 weeks (P=0.086). No dose-response relationship could be established, as the higher dose (250 microg) was less active than the lower dose both after 6 weeks and after 12 weeks. Still, a trend for a more rapid decrease of KI was noticed for both active groups as compared to placebo. In particular, the decrease in hot flush score (isolated from the KI) was found significant for both treatment groups after 6 weeks (P<0.01) with respect to placebo. Results of the patients' questionnaire were consistent with those of the KI, with the most pronounced effects being observed for the 100-microg treatment. CONCLUSIONS: Daily intake of a hop extract, standardized on 8-PN as a potent phytoestrogen, exerted favorable effects on vasomotor symptoms and other menopausal discomforts. Hop-derived prenylated flavonoids may provide an attractive addition to the alternative treatments available for relief of hot flushes and other menopausal discomforts.

Double-Blind Method↗

Identification and in vitro biological activities of hop proanthocyanidins: inhibition of nNOS activity and scavenging of reactive nitrogen species.

Oligomeric proanthocyanidins constitute a group of water-soluble polyphenolic tannins that are present in the female inflorescences (up to 5% dry wt) of the hop plant (Humulus lupulus). Humans are exposed to hop proanthocyanidins through consumption of beer. Proanthocyanidins from hops were characterized for their chemical structure and their in vitro biological activities. Chemically, they consist mainly of oligomeric catechins ranging from dimers to octamers, with minor amounts of catechin oligomers containing one or two gallocatechin units. The chemical structures of four procyanidin dimers (B1, B2, B3, and B4) and one trimer, epicatechin-(4beta-->8)-catechin-(4alpha-->8)-catechin (TR), were elucidated using mass spectrometry, NMR spectroscopy, and chemical degradation. When tested as a mixture, the hop oligomeric proanthocyanidins (PC) were found to be potent inhibitors of neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS) activity. Among the oligomers tested, procyanidin B2 was most inhibitory against nNOS activity. Procyanidin B3, catechin, and epicatechin were noninhibitory against nNOS activity. PC and the individual oligomers were all strong inhibitors of 3-morpholinosydnonimine (SIN-1)-induced oxidation of LDL, with procyanidin B3 showing the highest antioxidant activity at 0.1 microg/mL. The catechin trimer (TR) exhibited antioxidant activity more than 1 order of magnitude greater than that of alpha-tocopherol or ascorbic acid on a molar basis.

Anthocyanins↗

Mechanisms of cancer chemoprevention by hop bitter acids (beer aroma) through induction of apoptosis mediated by Fas and caspase cascades.

The bitter acids of hops (Humulus lupulus L.) mainly consist of alpha-acids, beta-acids, and their oxidation products that contribute the unique aroma of the beer beverage. Hop bitter acids displayed a strong growth inhibitory effect against human leukemia HL-60 cells, with an estimated IC(50) value of 8.67 microg/mL, but were less effective against human histolytic lymphoma U937 cells. Induction of apoptosis was confirmed in HL-60 cells by DNA fragmentation and the appearance of a sub-G1 DNA peak, which were preceded by dissipation of mitochondrial membrane potential, cytochrome c release, and subsequent induction of pro-caspase-9 and -3 processing. Cleavages of PARP and DFF-45 were accompanied with activation of caspase-9 and -3 triggered by hop bitter acids in HL-60 cells. The change in the expression of Bcl-2, Bcl-X(L), and Bax in response to hop bitter acids was studied, and the Bcl-2 protein level slightly decreased; however, the Bcl-X(L) protein level was obviously decreased, whereas the Bax protein level was dramatically increased, indicating that the control of Bcl-2 family proteins by hop bitter acids might participate in the disruption of mitochondrial integrity. In addition, the results showed that hop bitter acids promoted the up-regulation of Fas and FasL prior to the processing and activation of pro-caspase-8 and cleavage of Bid, suggesting the involvement of a Fas-mediated pathway in hop bitter acids-induced cells. Taken together, these findings suggest that a certain intimate link might exist between receptor- and mitochondria-mediated death signalings that committed to cell death induced by hop bitter acids. The induction of apoptosis by hop bitter acids may offer a pivotal mechanism for their chemopreventive action.

Acids↗

Effects of beer and hop on ionotropic gamma-aminobutyric acid receptors.

Beer induced the response of the ionotropic gamma-aminobutyric acid receptors (GABA(A) receptors) expressed in Xenopus oocytes, indicating the presence of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA)-like activity. Furthermore, the pentane extract of the beer, hop (Humulus lupulus L.) oil, and myrcenol potentiated the GABA(A) receptor response elicited by GABA. The GABA(A) receptor responses were also potentiated by the addition of aliphatic esters, most of which are reported to be present in beer flavor. Aliphatic esters showed the tendency to decrease in the potentiation of the GABA(A) receptor response with an increase in their carbon chain length. When myrcenol was injected to mice prior to intraperitoneal administration of pentobarbital, the pentobarbital-induced sleeping time of mice increased additionally. Therefore, the beer contained not only GABA-like activity but also the modulator(s) of the GABA(A) receptor response.

Acyclic Monoterpenes↗

Inhibition of peroxynitrite-mediated LDL oxidation by prenylated flavonoids: the alpha,beta-unsaturated keto functionality of 2'-hydroxychalcones as a novel antioxidant pharmacophore.

Prenylated 2'-hydroxychalcones and flavanones from the inflorescences of the female hop plant (Humulus lupulus) were shown to inhibit peroxynitrite-mediated oxidation of low-density lipoproteins (LDL) at low micromolar concentrations. LDL oxidation was induced by the peroxynitrite generator, 3-morpholinosydnonimine (SIN-1), and measured by the formation of conjugated dienes and thiobarbituric reactive substances. Human intake of prenylated chalcones and flavanones is mainly through beer, which contains up to 4 mg/L of these polyphenols. The two main oxidation products obtained by SIN-1 and peroxynitrite treatment of xanthohumol (XN), the principal prenylflavonoid of hops, were the aurone, auroxanthohumol (AUXN), and an endoperoxy derivative of XN, named endoperoxyxanthohumol (EPOX). In addition, the reaction produced smaller amounts of the nitro and nitroso derivatives of XN and EPOX. The formation of these nitrated products was enhanced in the presence of sodium bicarbonate (25 mM). SIN-1-induced formation of AUXN is considered to be a superoxide-mediated reaction, while the structure of EPOX points to a two electron oxidation reaction involving a Michael type addition with peroxynitrite as the nucleophile, followed by cyclization yielding a (1,2)-dioxepin-5-one ring structure. The flavanone isomer of XN, isoxanthohumol (IsoXN), unexpectedly showed a slight prooxidant effect instead of an inhibitory effect on LDL oxidation. Except for the formation of minor nitrated products, IsoXN remained largely unmodified upon treatment with SIN-1/peroxynitrite. Taken together, our results suggest that the alpha,beta-unsaturated keto functionality of chalcones is most reactive toward superoxide and peroxynitrite anions.

Antioxidants↗

Application of a yeast method for DNA extraction associated with database interrogations for the characterization of various filamentous fungi from diseased hop.

Filamentous fungi were collected from diseased hop (Humulus lupulus; L.) and DNA was prepared from 19 isolates. The critical step of cell lysis was carried out using zymolyase for fungal cell wall digestion. DNA was successfully prepared for all isolates and allowed ribosomal DNA region amplifications by PCR. The amplicons were sequenced and sequences were compared with nucleotides databases. These analyses allowed identification of each fungus and gave a precise view of the ecosystem. Seven different genera were found among the 19 isolates. A phylogenetic tree was constructed and revealed the diversity of the hop plant environment.

Base Sequence↗

Host-plant specialization in pheromone strains of the European corn borer Ostrinia nubilalis in France.

European corn borer (ECB) feeding on maize (Zea mais), mugwort (Artemisia vulgaris), and hop (Humulus lupulus) are genetically different in France and referred to as host-plant races. Here, we investigated sex pheromone composition as a possible trait linked to the host plant. ECB host races were sampled from 13 different sites in France. GC-MS analysis of female pheromone showed that 175 out of 176 maize females belonged to the Z type with one hybrid. In contrast, mugwort and hop females belonged almost exclusively to the E type. No Z females were found on these plants and only 2 females out of 169 were hybrids. In the three sites of sympatry, the hybrid proportion was far from Hardy-Weinberg expectations. Wind tunnel experiments showed that 76-79% of maize males from three populations were attracted by Z females, whereas neither mugwort nor hop males were. Mugwort males from Toussus-le-Noble were attracted by E females originating from an American maize strain. These data showed that maize, mugwort, and hop host races of O. nubilalis differ not only in their host plant but also in the sex pheromone they use. Because mugwort and hop are putative ancestral host plants, these results are discussed from the point of view of evolutionary scenarios for the emergence of Z and E strains.

Animals↗