Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms and Biochemical Markers As Complementary Tools To Characterize Hops ( Humulus lupulus L.) in Brewing Practice.

In brewing practice, the use of the appropriate hop variety is essential to produce consistent and high-quality beers. Yet, hop batches of the same variety cultivated in different geographical regions can display significant biochemical differences, resulting in specific taste- and aroma-related characteristics in beer. In this study, we illustrate the complementarity of genetic and biochemical fingerprinting methods to fully characterize hop batches.

Metabolism of hop-derived bitter acids.

In this study, in vitro metabolism of hop-derived bitter acids was investigated. Besides their well-known use as bitter compounds in beer, in several studies, bioactive properties have been related to these types of molecules. However, scientific data on the absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion aspects of these compounds are limited.

Bioavailability of hop-derived iso-α-acids and reduced derivatives.

Iso-α-acids (IAA) and their reduced derivatives (dihydro-iso-α-acids (DHIAA) and tetrahydro-iso-α-acids (THIAA)) have been administered to Caco-2 cell monolayers (30, 60, and 120 μM) to investigate epithelial transport, in both absorptive and secretive directions. In addition, 25 mg kg(-1) IAA, DHIAA, and THIAA were applied to New Zealand white rabbits (±3-3.5 kg) in a single intravenous and oral dose.

Attenuation of ERK/RSK2-driven NFκB gene expression and cancer cell proliferation by kurarinone, a lavandulyl flavanone isolated from Sophora flavescens ait. roots.

We have analyzed in molecular detail how kurarinone, a lavandulyl flavanone isolated from Sophora flavescens, suppresses nuclear factor-κB (NFκB)-driven interleukin-6 (IL6) expression and cancer cell growth. Interleukin-6 (IL6), involved in cancer-related inflammation, acts as an autocrine and paracrine growth factor, which promotes angiogenesis, metastasis, and subversion of immunity, and changes responsivity to hormones and to chemotherapeutics. Our results in estrogen-unresponsive fibroblasts, ribosomal S6 kinase 2 kinase (RSK2) knockout cells, and estrogen receptor (ER)-deficient breast tumor cells show that kurarinone can inhibit tumor cell proliferation and selectively block nuclear NFκB transactivation of specific target genes such as IL6, cyclin D1, SOD2 but not TNFAIP2.

Reactivity of beer bitter acids toward the 1-hydroxyethyl radical as probed by spin-trapping electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) and electrospray ionization-tandem mass spectrometry (ESI-MS/MS).

The iso-α-acids or isohumulones are the major contributors to the bitter taste of beer, and it is well-recognized that they are degraded during beer aging. In particular, the trans-isohumulones seem to be less stable than the cis-isohumulones. The major radical identified in beer is the 1-hydroxyethyl radical; however, the reactivity between this radical and the isohumulones has not been reported until now.