Int j mol SCI: compounds from hops can fight cancer!

April 15, 2019 / Bio Valley / a new study by Oregon State University (OSU) shows that hops, a plant that adds flavor, color and bitterness to beer, can also produce a major compound that inhibits cancer cells, and two important derivatives of this compound can play the same role Unlike the prototype compound xanthohumol (xn), these derivatives do not metabolize to phytoestrogens Phytoestrogens are phytochemicals, similar to female sex hormones, that help certain types of tumors grow and may cause other health problems Photo source: http://cn.bing.com research shows for the first time that the anticancer effect of the derivative in liver cancer and colon cancer is similar to xn This means that these two non estrogen derivatives and xn are attractive test substitutes in future preclinical studies The study was recently published in the International Journal of Molecular Sciences Xn is produced by common hops More than 20 years ago, researchers found that xn can inhibit the growth of many cancer cell lines "But a potential problem with xn is that enzymes in the liver and gut microbiota metabolize it to 8-glycyrrhiza flavonoid extract, or 8-PN, which is the most effective phytoestrogen known." Said PI Adrian gombart, research co-author, Professor of Biochemistry and Biophysics at the OSU School of science and LPI The derivatives that can not be metabolized to 8-PN are dihydroxanthommol (DXN) and tetrahydroxanthommol (TxN) Earlier, a study led by gombart's LPI colleague and co-author Fred Stevens explored the effects of DXN and TxN on metabolic syndrome "In that study we found that these two derivatives can reduce body weight and improve biomarkers for metabolic syndrome." Gombart said "We have known that xn can inhibit the proliferation of a series of cancer cell lines In this study, we found that xn can inhibit the growth of cancer cells and kill two kinds of hepatoma cell lines and two kinds of colon cancer cell lines The reason for our detection of hepatoma and colon cancer cell lines is the high concentration of XN derivatives absorbed orally in the intestine and liver " Colorectal cancer is the third leading cause of cancer-related death in the United States, while liver cancer ranks fifth However, the incidence rate of liver cancer has increased three times in the past forty years "For these cancers, it's important to find new compounds for disease prevention and treatment." Gombart said "In all cell lines tested, DXN and TxN can inhibit cell growth and cause cell death just like xn For most cell types, DXN and TxN play a stronger role " Reference materials: Isabelle Logan et al, antiviral and cycloxic activity of xanthohumol and its non essential derivatives in colon and hepatecellular carcinoma cell lines, International Journal of Molecular Sciences (2019) Doi: 10.3390/ijms20051203