The article provides an overview of the structural features of the natural populations of Humulus lupulus L. in the world and in Kazakhstan. Currently, the use in medicine of natural products, medicines and biologically active substances of plant origin is increasing. Significant parts of the medicinal raw materials are wild plants. The need for medicinal plant raw materials (medicinal plants) is not decreasing; the technology of its procurement and reproduction in natural conditions wants significant perfection. It is known that they have a milder, more complex effect on the human body and are used in the treatment of many chronic diseases. The growing anthropogenic impact on populations of valuable medicinal plants is decreasing their stocks of raw materials. In this regard, the study of biological characteristics and the development of scientifically based agricultural techniques for the cultivation of many medicinal plants are becoming relevant. Humulus lupulus L. (common hop) is a valuable medicinal plant. They are used as painkillers, sedatives, hypnotics for increased nervous irritability, sleep distur-bances, neuralgia, vegetovascular dystonia, mild coronary spasms, tachycardia, and in the early stages of hyper-tension. According to the classification of medicinal plant resources, Humulus lupulus L. is a plant with a wide range, but with a limited supply of raw materials. In places of growth of Humulus lupulus L. does not form large thickets [1].
Recently, a comprehensive approach has been applied in the study of natural plant populations, including ontomorphological and population-ecological studies. This makes it possible to objectively assess the state of the species in the cenosis and predict its future behavior. In this regard, a comprehensive study of the natural populations of Humulus lupulus L. is of great relevance.
Hops (Humulus lupulus L.) is an important crop worldwide, known as the main flavor ingredient in beer. A diversified brewing industry requires a variety of flavors, superior technological properties and sustainable agro-nomy, which are the center of advanced molecular breeding efforts in hops. Hop breeders have been limited in their ability to create strains with desirable traits, however, due to unusual and unpredictable inheritance patterns and the associated non-Mendelian segregation of genetic markers [2].
The use of hops has recently been undergoing a new change, driven by a growing international preference for more intensely flavored beer, supported by the craft-brewing sector. This movement led to the introduction of much more hops at various stages of beer production and to an ever-growing search for new flavors. Some hop varieties have thus received particular attention, including several older typical hops mostly used to date, although an intensive search for new varieties dubbed "Green Gold" has also taken place. A large number of new exquisite varieties have been described and are increasingly appreciated in the market. Global hop growing areas have increased over the past 5 years, although total world beer production has declined over the same period, confirming the trend of using more hops per liter of beer. In addition, a wide range of pharmacological properties have been described for hops and its derivatives, namely antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and antitumor properties, which are of great importance for the pharmaceutical industry. The bioactivity of beer can depend on the use of hops, which can become an important tool for brewers aiming to develop functional products.
Taken together, the compounds isolated from Humulus lupulus L. have a wide range of biological activity, such as anti-inflammatory action, antimicrobial action, antioxidant action, antiproliferative effects, cytochrome P450 effects, glucose metabolism effects, hormonal effects, lipid effects and sedative / hypnotic effects.
Therefore, the purpose of this Chapter is to describe the importance of hops in this new direction of beer production, market overview of hops, varieties, forms and methods of use, composition, value in bioactivity of beer and new discoveries in research hops [3].
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