Hops

Humulus lupulus L.

Hops are the female inflorescences of the plant Humulus lupulus L. They are used primarily in beer brewing to add bitterness and flavor. Hops is also used as an herbal medicine for mood disturbance and insomnia (1) and to treat menopausal symptoms. In vitro studies suggest hops has antibacterial (28), chemopreventive (2) (3) (4), antitumor (5), antiangiogenic (6), anti-inflammatory (19), phytoestrogenic (29), and antidiabetic (7) properties. In murine models, hops reduced hyperlipidemia (8) and obesity (9), and protected against bone loss following estrogen depletion (21).