Cladus: Eukaryota
Regnum: Plantae
Divisio: Magnoliophyta
Classis: Magnoliopsida
Ordo: Rosales
Familia: Cannabaceae
Genus: Humulus
Species: H. lupulus

Name

Humulus lupulus L.

Vernacular names

Ελληνικά: Αγκελόνια , Ζυθόχορτο, Χουμέλη
Suomi: Humala
Svenska: Humle
Türkçe: Şerbetçi otu
Vèneto: Lovertin, Bruscànzoli/Bruscàndoli

Humulus lupulus (Common hop) is a species of Humulus in the Cannabaceae family.

Common hop is a dioecious, perennial herbaceous climbing plant which sends up new shoots in early spring and dies back to the cold-hardy rhizome in autumn. It is native to the temperate Northern Hemisphere.

The flower cones of the plant, known as hops, are used in the production of beer to impart bitterness and flavor, and for their preservative qualities.[1] The extract is antimicrobial, which makes it useful for making natural deodorant.[2] Hops also contain the potent phytoestrogen, 8-prenylnaringenin that may have a relative binding affinity to estrogen receptors.[3] Hop also contains myrcene, humulene, myrcenol, linalool, tannins, resin.

Varieties

There are five varieties of this species (Humulus lupulus):

H. lupulus var. lupulus. – Europe, western Asia.
H. lupulus var. cordifolius. – Eastern Asia.
H. lupulus var. lupuloides (syn. H. americanus). – Eastern North America.
H. lupulus var. neomexicanus. – Western North America.
H. lupulus var. pubescens. – Midwest North America.

There are many cultivated varieties: see List of hop varieties

Pests and diseases

Animal pests

Hop leaf aphid (Phorodon humuli)
Red spider mite (Tetranychus urticae)

Diseases

Downy mildew (Pseudoperonospora humuli)
Powdery mildew (Podosphaera macularis)

External links

Purdue University article
Botanical.com - a wealth of information on the Hop plant and its past and modern uses
Armeniapedia.org - Medicinal uses of hops in Armenia
2005-10-25 Oregon State University Anti-cancer Compound in Beer Gaining Interest
Humulus lupulus at the Encyclopedia of Life

References

^ "Antimicrobial screening of essential oils and extracts of some Humulus lupulus L. cultivars.". Pharm Weekbl Sci. 1992 Dec 11;14(6):353-6.. Retrieved 2010-12-06.
^ "Hops [CO2] Extract". Toms of Maine. Retrieved 2009-06-06.
^ "Identification of a potent phytoestrogen in hops (Humulus lupulus L.) and beer". J Clin Endocrinol Metab.. 1999 June. Retrieved 20 July 2009.