title: The hop constituent xanthohumol exhibits hepatoprotective effects and inhibits the activation of hepatic stellate cells at different levels.
abstract: Xanthohumol is the principal prenylated flavonoid of the female inflorescences of the hop plant. In recent years, various beneficial xanthohumol effects including anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, hypoglycemic activities, and anticancer effects have been revealed. This review summarizes present studies indicating that xanthohumol also inhibits several critical pathophysiological steps during the development and course of chronic liver disease, including the activation and pro-fibrogenic genotype of hepatic stellate cells. Also the various mechanism of action and molecular targets of the beneficial xanthohumol effects will be described. Furthermore, the potential use of xanthohumol or a xanthohumol-enriched hop extract as therapeutic agent to combat the progression of chronic liver disease will be discussed. It is notable that in addition to its hepatoprotective effects, xanthohumol also holds promise as a therapeutic agent for treating obesity, dysregulation of glucose metabolism and other components of the metabolic syndrome including hepatic steatosis. Thus, therapeutic xanthohumol application appears as a promising strategy, particularly in obese patients, to inhibit the development as well as the progression of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Molecular Pathobiochemistry, Experimental Gene Therapy and Clinical Chemistry, RWTH University Hospital Aachen Aachen, Germany.
authors.forename: Ralf
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Weiskirchen
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine I, University Hospital Regensburg Regensburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Abdo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mahli
authors.affiliation: Institute of Molecular Pathobiochemistry, Experimental Gene Therapy and Clinical Chemistry, RWTH University Hospital Aachen Aachen, Germany.
authors.forename: Sabine
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Weiskirchen
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine I, University Hospital Regensburg Regensburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Claus
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Hellerbrand
keywords: fibrosis; hepatic stellate cells; hops; liver disease; xanthohumol