Hops Improves Estrogen-Related Cancer Risk

CHICAGOHops, but not black cohosh, was effective against estrogen metabolism related to cancer risk from hormone replacement therapy (HRT), according to research from the University of Illinois, Chicago. Their findings were published online ahead of print Oct. 13 in Cancer Prevention Research.

As long-term exposure to hormones such as in HRT increase the risk of hormone-dependent cancer, and as women increasingly seek out botanical alternatives such as black cohosh and hops, the researchers look at the chemopreventive effects of these botanicals on estrogen carcinogenic pathways in vivotwo major mechanism in this type of cancer are estrogen receptor (ER) mediated hormonal pathway and the chemical carcinogenesis pathway involving formation of estrogen quinones that damage DNA and proteins, hence initiating and promoting carcinogenesis.

They found hops helped inhibit the hydroxylation by cytochrome P450 (CYP450) of estradiol metabolites, a process that can lead to development of carcinogens, whereas black cohosh did not help. Hops extract also reduced estrogen-induced expression of CYP450 1B1 and CYP450 1A1. Of two hops phenols tested, 8-prenylnaringenin (8-PN) significantly inhibited the cytochromes, while xanthohumol had no effect.  Further, hops and 8-PN significantly inhibited estrogen-induced malignant transformation of MCF-10A breast cancer cells.