Hops as a source of biologically active compounds

Abstract

In recent years, hop, commonly known as the plant used for the production of beer, has attracted increasing interest in the pharmaceutical and cosmetic industries. Secondary me-tabolites found in hop, such as bitter acids, polyphenols or essen-tial oils, exhibit anti-cancer, anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties. Moreover, numerous studies confirm estrogenic activ-ity, the ability to lower blood glucose levels and sedative effects of the plant. The paper discusses secondary metabolites in hops divided into groups depending on their chemical structure. Ad-ditionally, the biological activity of the metabolites is presented herein. The prospects of using hops for purposes other than brew-ing are also demonstrated.