hop

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• hop
• hops
• bine
• common hop

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Lupulus humulus
• Humulus lupulus var. silvestris
• Waldensia lupulina
• Lupulus communis
• Humulus vulgaris
• Humulus lupulus var. acrocarpus
• Humulus lupulus var. effusus
• Humulus lupulus var. spaltensis

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant, known scientifically as Humulus lupulus, belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta. Within the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae, it is categorized under the order Rosales and the family Cannabaceae. Ultimately, its taxonomic identity is defined by the genus Humulus.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant, known as Humulus lupulus, is widely distributed across several regions in Northern Europe. In the southern reaches of this area, it can be found growing in Denmark. Moving further north, the species is also established in the landscapes of Norway and Finland. The plant's range extends westward to include the islands of Great Britain and Ireland. Together, these locations highlight the specific northern territories where the species thrives.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Humulus lupulus is characterized by its ability to thrive in specific disturbed environments, frequently occupying open roadsides that are managed by human intervention. This species demonstrates a significant capacity for adaptation to varied landscapes, maintaining a presence in regions with a notable elevational range, reaching a mean altitude of 2400 m AMSL. Its growth patterns are closely tied to these managed open spaces, where the availability of light and the structural support provided by roadside vegetation facilitate its development.

Elevational range mean:

2400 m AMSL

Habitat :

open roadsides managed

Life history

The life history of Humulus lupulus is characterized by its status as a perennial plant, allowing it to persist through multiple growing seasons via a robust underground system. As a phanerophyte, it maintains its regenerative structures above the ground level, specifically functioning as a climbing vine that utilizes specialized structures to ascend. This species exhibits a deciduous nature, shedding its foliage annually as it enters a period of dormancy during the colder months. Its morphological development and survival strategies are defined by these phanerophytic traits, ensuring long-term establishment and seasonal regrowth within its habitat.

Deciduousness :

deciduous

Life form :

phanerophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Humulus lupulus is characterized by its growth form as a non-woody herb and a forb. As an obligatory vine, it functions as a climbing plant that relies on external support to ascend, exhibiting a terrestrial habit rather than being aquatic or epiphytic. The plant is an independent organism, meaning it does not function as a parasite. In terms of vertical dimension, its height is variable, typically ranging from a minimum of 2 m to a maximum of 8 m, with an average plant height of approximately 5.5 m.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

vine

Climber :

obligatory

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Growth form :

forb

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

8 m

Plant height mean:

5.5 m

Plant height min:

2 m

Woodiness :

non-woody

Physiology

The physiology of Humulus lupulus is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, reflecting its metabolic strategy for carbon fixation. As a non-carnivorous species, it relies on standard nutrient uptake rather than specialized trapping mechanisms. The foliage exhibits significant morphological variability, with leaf lengths ranging from a minimum of 3 cm to a maximum of 12 cm, maintaining a mean length of 7.5 cm. Leaf width similarly fluctuates, spanning from a minimum of 4 cm to a maximum of 12 cm, with an observed mean width of 6 cm. These dimensions contribute to a mean leaf size of 77.11 cm², while the Specific Leaf Area (SLA) averages 239.67 cm²/g, indicating a specific relationship between the leaf's surface area and its dry mass that influences its resource-use efficiency and light interception capabilities.

Carnivory :

non-carnivorous

Leaf length max:

12 cm

Leaf length mean:

7.5 cm

Leaf length min:

3 cm

Leaf size mean:

77.11 cm²

Leaf width max:

12 cm

Leaf width mean:

6 cm

Leaf width min:

4 cm

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Specific Leaf Area (SLA) mean:

239.67 cm²/g

Reproduction

The reproduction of Humulus lupulus is characterized by a sexual process, as asexual reproduction is notably absent. The plant follows an abiotic pollination syndrome, specifically relying on the wind for pollination. The flowering period is concentrated in July, with both the start and end of the flowering stage occurring during this month. Following pollination, the plant produces fruit in the form of an achene, which is indehiscent in nature. These fruits typically maintain a consistent length, with a mean, minimum, and maximum measurement all recorded at 1 cm. The resulting seeds are quite small, with a mean seed mass of approximately 0.0036835 g, ranging from a minimum of 0.00289 g to a maximum of 0.00346 g. Furthermore, the plant does not exhibit self-fertilization, and its dispersal syndrome is classified as anemochorous, meaning the seeds are dispersed via the wind.

Dehiscence :

indehiscent

Dispersal syndrome :

anemochorous

Flowering time :

Jul

Fruit length max:

1 cm

Fruit type :

achene

Pollination syndrome :

wind

Pollination syndrome :

abiotic

Reproduction asexual :

absent

Seed mass max:

0.00346 g

Seed mass mean:

0.0036835 g

Seed mass min:

0.00289 g

Self fertilization :

absent

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Humulus lupulus has 2 reported plant parts identified across 4 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include flower, leaf.

Flower

1. Planta medica
2. Fitoterapia

Leaf

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
2. Pharmaceuticals (Basel, Switzerland)

Chemicals

Humulus lupulus has 310 reported phytochemicals identified across 4 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Xanthohumol, 8-Prenylnaringenin, Isoxanthohumol, polyphenols, 6-Prenylnaringenin.

Xanthohumol

1. Dr. Duke
2. Pharmaceutical patent analyst
3. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)
4. Foods (Basel, Switzerland)
5. Journal of natural products

8-Prenylnaringenin

1. Planta medica
2. Journal of natural products
3. Cancer prevention research (Philadelphia, Pa.)
4. PloS one
5. The Journal of clinical endocrinology and metabolism

Isoxanthohumol

1. Dr. Duke
2. Journal of natural products
3. The Journal of clinical endocrinology and metabolism
4. Bulletin of experimental biology and medicine
5. Planta medica

polyphenols

1. Food chemistry
2. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)
3. Foods (Basel, Switzerland)
4. Fitoterapia
5. Bioscience, biotechnology, and biochemistry

6-Prenylnaringenin

1. Journal of natural products
2. The Journal of clinical endocrinology and metabolism
3. Planta medica
4. Biomedical chromatography : BMC

CHLOROGENIC ACID

1. Dr. Duke
2. Foods (Basel, Switzerland)
3. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Flavonoids

1. Foods (Basel, Switzerland)
2. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
3. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica

Lupulone

1. Dr. Duke
2. Foods (Basel, Switzerland)
3. Journal of natural products

MYRCENE

1. Dr. Duke
2. Pharmaceuticals (Basel, Switzerland)
3. Plant biology (Stuttgart, Germany)

RUTIN

1. Dr. Duke
2. Fitoterapia
3. Pharmaceuticals (Basel, Switzerland)

Activities

Humulus lupulus has 731 reported activities identified across 4 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antioxidant, Estrogenic, Anticancer, Antimicrobial, Sedative.

Antioxidant

1. Dr. Duke
2. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)
3. Food technology and biotechnology
4. Avicenna journal of medical biotechnology
5. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Estrogenic

1. Dr. Duke
2. Planta medica
3. Frontiers in pharmacology
4. The Journal of clinical endocrinology and metabolism
5. Biomedical chromatography : BMC

Anticancer

1. Dr. Duke
2. Journal of biomedicine & biotechnology
3. Journal of agricultural and food chemistry
4. International journal of molecular sciences

Antimicrobial

1. Pharmaceutical patent analyst
2. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)
3. Fitoterapia
4. International journal of molecular sciences

Sedative

1. Dr. Duke
2. Praxis
3. Journal of agricultural and food chemistry
4. Journal of natural products

Antibacterial

1. Dr. Duke
2. Food technology and biotechnology
3. Journal of agricultural and food chemistry

Anticarcinogenic

1. Dr. Duke
2. Pharmaceutical patent analyst
3. Avicenna journal of medical biotechnology

Antiproliferative

1. Dr. Duke
2. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)
3. Food technology and biotechnology

Antiviral

1. Dr. Duke
2. Avicenna journal of medical biotechnology
3. International journal of molecular sciences

Analgesic

1. Dr. Duke
2. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America

Conditions

Humulus lupulus has 49 reported investigations on conditions identified across 4 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include anxiety, depression, cancer, inflammation, insomnia.

Anxiety

1. Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology
2. Revista de enfermeria (Barcelona, Spain)
3. European review for medical and pharmacological sciences
4. Planta medica
5. Cells

Depression

1. Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology
2. Cells
3. Hormones (Athens, Greece)
4. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
5. Planta medica

Cancer

1. Journal of mass spectrometry : JMS
2. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)
3. Chemical research in toxicology

Inflammation

1. International journal of molecular sciences
2. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America
3. Journal of natural products

Insomnia

1. Revista de enfermeria (Barcelona, Spain)
2. Nutrients
3. Planta medica

Cardiovascular disease

1. Pharmaceutical patent analyst
2. Journal of agricultural and food chemistry

Diabetes mellitus

1. Journal of natural products
2. Diabetes research (Edinburgh, Scotland)

Hot flashes

1. European review for medical and pharmacological sciences
2. Biomedical chromatography : BMC

Obesity

1. Pharmaceutical patent analyst
2. Journal of agricultural and food chemistry

Primary insomnia

1. Indian journal of pharmacology
2. Australian family physician

Preparations

Humulus lupulus has 13 reported preparations identified across 4 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include ethanol extracts, extracts, plant extracts, aqueous extract, aqueous-methanolic extract (1:1; v/v).

Ethanol extracts

1. Yakugaku zasshi : Journal of the Pharmaceutical Society of Japan
2. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Extracts

1. Analytical and bioanalytical chemistry
2. Journal of family medicine and primary care

Plant extracts

1. Antibiotics (Basel, Switzerland)
2. Biomolecules

Aqueous extract

1. Fitoterapia

Aqueous-methanolic extract (1:1; v/v)

1. Daru : journal of Faculty of Pharmacy, Tehran University of Medical Sciences

Brewing

1. Journal of biomedicine & biotechnology

Extract

1. Biomedical chromatography : BMC

Herbal extracts

1. Current pharmaceutical design

Hop cone extract

1. Platelets

Hops extract

1. Avicenna journal of phytomedicine