€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€ *****DIABETES RESEARCH***** Swanston-Flatt SK Day C Flatt PR Gould BJ Bailey CJ Glycaemic effects of traditional European plant treatments for diabetes. Studies in normal and streptozotocin diabetic mice. In: Diabetes Res (1989 Feb) 10(2):69-73 ISSN: 0265-5985 Twelve plants used for the traditional treatment of diabetes mellitus in northern Europe were studied using normal and streptozotocin diabetic mice to evaluate effects on glucose homeostasis. The plants were administered in the diet (6.25% by weight) and/or as decoctions or infusions in place of drinking water, to coincide with the traditional method of preparation. Treatment for 28 days with preparations of burdock (Arctium lappa), cashew (Anacardium occidentale), dandelion (Taraxacum officinale), elder (Sambucus nigra), fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum), guayusa (Ilex guayusa), hop (Humulus lupulus), nettle (Urtica dioica), cultivated mushroom (Agaricus bisporus), periwinkle (Catharanthus roseus), sage (Salvia officinale), and wild carrot (Daucus carrota) did not affect the parameters of glucose homeostasis examined in normal mice (basal plasma glucose and insulin, glucose tolerance, insulin-induced hypoglycaemia and glycated haemoglobin). After administration of streptozotocin (200 mg/kg) burdock and nettle aggravated the diabetic condition, while cashew, dandelion, elder, fenugreek, hop, periwinkle, sage and wild carrot did not significantly affect the parameters of glucose homeostasis studied (basal glucose and insulin, insulin-induced hypoglycaemia, glycated haemoglobin and pancreatic insulin concentration). Guayusa and mushroom retarded the development of hyperglycaemia in streptozotocin diabetes and reduced the hyperphagia, polydipsia, body weight loss, and glycated haemoglobin. Mushroom also countered the initial reduction in plasma insulin and the reduction in pancreatic insulin concentration, and improved the hypoglycaemic effect of exogenous insulin. These studies suggest the presence of potentially useful antidiabetic agents in guayusa and mushroom. €€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€ *****JOURNAL OF APPLIED BACTERIOLOGY***** Simpson WJ Smith AR Factors affecting antibacterial activity of hop compounds and their derivatives. In: J Appl Bacteriol (1992 Apr) 72(4):327-34 ISSN: 0021-8847 The antibacterial effect of weak acids derived from the hop plant (Humulus lupulus L.) increased with decreasing pH. Analysis of the minimum inhibitory concentration of such compounds against Lactobacillus brevis IFO 3960 over pH 4-7 suggests that undissociated molecules were mainly responsible for inhibition of bacterial growth. The antibacterial activity of trans-isohumulone was ca 20 times greater than that of humulone, 11 times greater than that of colupulone and nine times greater than that of trans-humulinic acid when the degree of ionization was taken into account. Monovalent cations (K+, Na+, NH4+, Rb+, Li+) stimulated antibacterial activity of trans-isohumulone but the effect was smaller than that observed with H+. The response to divalent cations varied: Ca2+ had little effect on antibacterial activity, whereas Mg2+ reduced activity. Lipid materials and beta-cyclodextrin also antagonized the antibacterial action of trans-isohumulone. Registry Numbers: 468-27-9 (colupulone) 469-02-3 (humulon) €€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€ *****JOURNAL OF CHROMATOGRAPHIC SCIENCE***** Verschuere M Sandra P David F Fractionation by SFE and microcolumn analysis of the essential oil and the bitter principles of hops. In: J Chromatogr Sci (1992 Oct) 30(10):388-91 ISSN: 0021-9665 Supercritical fluid extraction (SFE) is evaluated and optimized for the enrichment and fractionation of the essential oil and the bitter principles of hops (Humulus lupulus), both of which contribute to the flavor of beer. Profiles of the essential oil of different hop varieties are compared. The bitter principles, the humulones and lupulones, are analyzed by miniaturized liquid chromatography (micro- LC) and by micellar electrokinetic chromatography (MEKC). €€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€ *****ONCOLOGY***** Yasukawa K Takeuchi M Takido M Humulon, a bitter in the hop, inhibits tumor promotion by 12-O- tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate in two-stage carcinogenesis in mouse skin. In: Oncology (1995 Mar-Apr) 52(2):156-8 ISSN: 0030-2414 Humulon, one of the bitters in the hop, was isolated from the female flowers of Humulus lupulus. This component has inhibitory activity against 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA)-induced inflammation. At 1 mg/mouse, humulon inhibited markedly the tumor- promoting effect of TPA (1 microgram/mouse) on skin tumor formation following initiation with 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene (50 micrograms/mouse). Furthermore, humulon inhibited arachidonic acid- induced inflammatory ear edema in mice. Registry Numbers: 16561-29-8 (Tetradecanoylphorbol Acetate) 469-02-3 (humulon) 506-32-1 (Arachidonic Acid) 57-97-6 (9,10-Dimethyl-1,2-benzanthracene) €€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€ *****PHARMACEUTISCH WEEKBLAD. SCIENTIFIC EDITION***** Langezaal CR Chandra A Scheffer JJ Antimicrobial screening of essential oils and extracts of some Humulus lupulus L. cultivars. In: Pharm Weekbl Sci (1992 Dec 11) 14(6):353-6 ISSN: 0167-6555 The essential oils as well as solvent extracts of 11 hop cultivars, 1 hop variety and a wild type of hop were screened for their antimicrobial activities using the agar overlay technique. The oils were isolated from the cones of the various hop plants by hydrodistillation, the extracts were obtained by soaking the hop cones in chloroform. The oils and the extracts showed activity against the Gram-positive bacteria (Bacillus subtilis and Staphylococcus aureus) and the fungus (Trichophyton mentagrophytes var. interdigitale), but almost no activity against the Gram-negative bacterium (Escherichia coli) and the yeast (Candida albicans) used in the screening. The peak area percentages of the main volatile components and the contents of the bitter acids of the extracts were determined for all cultivars using chromatographic methods. €€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€ *****VRACHEBNOE DELO***** Krivenko VV Potebnia GP Loiko VV [Experience in treating digestive organ diseases with medicinal plants] Opyt lecheniia nekotorykh zabolevanii organov pishchevareniia lekarstvennymi rasteniiami. In: Vrach Delo (1989 Mar)(3):76-8 ISSN: 0049-6804 (Published in Russian) Results are reported of treatment of chronic hyposecretory gastritis, chronic hepatocholecystitis and angiocholitis by a herbal complex. The herbal composition included Achillea millefolium, Urtica dioica, Cichorium (aboveground part), Polygonum, Matricaria chamomilla (flowers), Helichrysum arenarium, Calendula (flowers), corn stigmas, Humulus lupulus (racemes) in proportion 3:3:1:1:2:1:1:2:1 respectively. The herbal decoction is to be taken 3 times daily before meals. Diet N 5 (Pevzner scheme) is to be observed. €€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€