Just in time for St. Paddy's Day, we have been blessed with possibly the best news ever.
One of the key ingredients in beer could be used in the fight against cancer and inflammatory diseases.
Scientists at the University of Idaho are currently working on ways to extract beneficial acids, called humulones and lupulones, from hops, in an effort to replicate them in the laboratory.
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Humulones and lupulones have the ability to fight bacterial growth. "In petri dish experiments, these two hop acids appeared to kill cancer cells and restrict leukemia cells from clinging to bone," Health News Line reports.
What are hops though? Well, they're the little green flowers that serve as a key ingredient in beer, giving it the bitter finish we associate with the drink. If you like to quaff £5 craft ales in the trendier areas of Britain's cities, you'll be very familiar with the aroma and taste of hops.
Dr Kristopher Waynant, who is conducting the research, says the team is close to synthesising the acids into pharmaceutical drugs: "We believe we have a rapid and efficient route to get there," he said.
Great news. However, Dr Waynant was quick to warn people that they shouldn't get wrecked for medicinal purposes: "We certainly don't think that beer should be viewed as a medicine," he added.
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Bummer.
Featured Image Credit:Topics: Alcohol, Beer, Disease, Cancer