S EATTLE - In the hometown of microbrew come new clues that beer can contain something much healthier than just a big dose of carbohydrates. The researchers reported last week at the Society of Toxicology annual meeting that several compounds in hops - the dried flowers which give beer its bitter taste -. Slow the growth of cancer cells in test tubes and a rev fight against cancer enzyme
The group, led by Donald Buhler toxicologists and Cristobal Miranda of Oregon State University in Corvallis, nine isolated compounds called flavonoids hops. Using standard tests for the screening of compounds for anticancer activity, they found that some flavonoids slowed the growth of human breast cancer and ovarian cancer cells by 50% without side effects on healthy cells . And two compounds caused mouse liver cells to increase up to quadruple production of a called quinone reductase enzyme that detoxifies carcinogens. Many chemicals also inhibited cytochrome P450, an enzyme that converts carcinogenic compounds such as aflatoxin in their carcinogenic metabolites.
Buhler warns that the compounds "may be not be active at all" in animals, but there is reason to believe they will. Flavonoids from hops are very similar in structure of many other chemicals suspected to prevent cancer in plants, such as genistein, a substance in soy products that can protect women in Asia against breast cancer. hops compounds "are powerful natural inducers [of quinone reductase] at lower doses, "says the University of Colorado toxicologist David Ross, who also studies the enzyme. "It's interesting."
The group now plans to move to animal studies, but in the meantime, Oregon State has applied for patents on the compounds. Buhler said that you might have to quaff enough little bitter beers for all cancer benefits. But, he said, it may be possible to provide people flavonoids in a capsule form available, for example, in a health food store.
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