Hops extract may protect against breast cancer

Time：2021/6/25

Enriched hops extract can help prevent breast cancer by activating a chemical pathway in cells, according to an experiment from the UIC/NIH Plant Dietary Supplement Research Center at the University of Illinois at Chicago.Natural plant-based dietary supplements, such as hops, are becoming increasingly popular among women experiencing postmenopausal symptoms.They are considered safer alternatives to hormone therapy, which has been linked to an increased risk of breast cancer.Increased risk of breast cancer with a safer alternative.However, the efficacy and potential toxicity of the extract are still being studied.The study, led by Professor Jody Bolton, leader of pharmaceutical chemistry and pharmacognosy at the UIC School of Pharmacy, applied hops extracts to two different breast cancer cell lines to see if they affected estrogen metabolism.Estrogen metabolism is a key mechanism in the pathogenesis of breast cancer.A compound called 6-prenylnarigenin, or 6-PN, that enhances the detoxification pathway in cells has been associated with a lower risk of breast cancer.