Hop Extracts and Hop Substances in Treatment of Menopausal
                    Complaints

Annekathrin M. Keiler; Oliver Zierau; Georg Kretzschmar

doi:10.1055/s-0032-1328330

Planta Medica, Table of Contents

Planta Med 2013; 79(07): 576-579
DOI: 10.1055/s-0032-1328330

Women's Health

Mini Reviews

Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Hop Extracts and Hop Substances in Treatment of Menopausal Complaints

Annekathrin M. Keiler

¹Institute of Zoology, Molecular Cell Physiology and Endocrinology, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany

,

Oliver Zierau

¹Institute of Zoology, Molecular Cell Physiology and Endocrinology, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany

,

Georg Kretzschmar

¹Institute of Zoology, Molecular Cell Physiology and Endocrinology, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany

› Author Affiliations

Abstract

Hop extract is a long used medicinal product and, regarding hormonal activities, in 1999 a number of prenylflavanones have been identified as its major constituents with 8-prenylnaringenin (8-PN) being the main active estrogenic compound. There have been several in vivo studies performed that demonstrate the potential of hop extract and the single compound 8-PN to alleviate climacteric symptoms like osteoporosis, vasomotoric complaints, and sexual motivation. On the other hand, only a few clinical studies have been performed so far, and these mainly focused on menopausal discomforts, especially hot flushes, yielding rather inconclusive results. Despite preferentially activating estrogen receptor α, 8-PN is only slightly uterotrophic, but it also elucidates estrogenic effects on the mammary gland. In conclusion, although hop extract and especially 8-PN are promising candidates as a relief for climacteric symptoms, data on the safety and efficacy is still scarce.

Key words

Humulus lupulus L. - Cannabaceae - menopause - 8-prenylnaringenin - xanthohumol - isoxanthohumol - safety

Full Text

References

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