Glandula lupuli

Glandula lupuli are the hop glands of the true hop (also known as Humulus vulgaris) used in naturopathy, consisting of the glandular scales on the inside of the bracts of the female inflorescences or fruit clusters, see under Lupuli flos.The hop glands are obtained by tapping and sieving the hop cones.Galndula lupulo are greenish-yellow to orange-yellow globules, the taste is spicy-bitter.

For use, see Lupuli flos. see also Humulus lupulus oil (INCI)

Active ingredients: about 50% resin substances with the unstable bitter substances humulone, cohumulone (alpha hop bitters) and lupulone, colupulone and adlupulone (beta hop bitters). This produces compounds such as 2-methyl-3-butenol, proanthocyanidins and phenolic acids. Glandula lupuli also contain 0.3% essential oils with the main components alpha- and beta-caryophyllene, farnesene), 0.5-1.5% flavonoids (including quercetin, kaempferol glycosides, 8-prenylnaringenin (also known as hopein - a highly potent phytoestrogen - Abdi F et al. 2016) and various chalcones as the main constituents), tannins (2-4%), choline and asparagine (Zhang WK et al. 2013).

Glandula lupuli decomposes rapidly during storage, producing valeric acid. Xanthohumol is a compound specific to hops, which is therefore also used as an analytical lead substance.

Sedative, sleep-inducing, appetite-stimulating, antibacterial, promotes saliva and stomach secretion.

Hop extracts can be used as sedatives; also for menopausal and postmenopausal complaints. Hop bitters are occasionally used as an amarum aromatic to intensify the flavor of liqueurs and essences. Preparations made from hop cones are used as a mild sleep aid and sedative. Hop extracts are commercially available as ready-to-use medicines, often in a mixture with other herbal sedatives such as valerian.

In aromatherapy, hop flowers are used as "aroma pillows" or hop extracts as a bath additive.

Indication according to Commission E: restlessness, anxiety, sleep disorders

Indications in empirical medicine: irritable bladder, enuresis nocturna, loss of appetite, nervous gastropathy.

Dosage form: Cut drug, drug powder, dry extract powder for infusions and decoctions.

1. Abdi F et al (2016) Protocol for systematic review and meta-analysis: hop (Humulus lupulus L.) for menopausal vasomotor symptoms. BMJ Open 6:e010734.
2. Burger A et al (1993) Hunnius Pharmaceutical Dictionary 7th Edition Walter de Gruyter Berlin-New York p. p 694-695
3. Keiler AM et al (2013) Hop extracts and hop substances in treatment of menopausal complaints. Planta Med 79:576-579.
4. Overk CR et al.(2005) Comparison of the in vitro estrogenic activities of compounds from hops (Humulus lupulus) and red clover (Trifolium pratense). J Agricultural Food Chem 53:6246-6253.
5. Pradalier A et al (2002) Systemic urticaria induced by hops. Allerg Immunol (Paris) 34 : 330-332.
6. Reeb-Whitaker CK et al (2014) Respiratory disease associated with occupational inhalation to hop (Humulus lupulus) during harvest and processing. Ann Allergy Asthma Immunol 113:534-538.
7. Schilcher H (2016.) Guide to Phytotherapy. Urban & Fischer Publishing House Munich S. 160-162
8. Tan KW et al (2014) Hop-derived prenylflavonoids are substrates and inhibitors of the efflux transporter breast cancer resistance protein (BCRP/ABCG2). Mol Nutr Food Res 58:2099-2110.
9. Zhang WK et al (2013) Flavonoids from Humulus lupulus. Zhongguo Zhong Yao Za Zhi 38:1539-1542.