Evening star., 1950-12-04
Extract Of Hops Found
To Inhibit tuberculosis
Two Substances Are Recognized
As Essential to Brewing Trade
By Thomos R. Henry

py InomoS u. nenTy
An extract from hops has been found
by Agriculture Department chemists to
have powerful inhibiting effect against
the tubercle bacillus, the organism re.
sponsible for tuberculosis.
It long has been claimed that there
is slight antibiotic activity In beer.
This finding concerning hops tends to
support these claims which hitherto
generally have been disregarded.
Two substances in hops are recog.
nized as essential for brewing-lupulon
and humulon. Tests with pure extracts
OF both at the Agriculture Departments
Western Research Laboratory showed
activity against two well-known types
OF bacteria. Lupulon, however, was
about 10 times as active as humulon;
and method for its extraction, first
used by brewers 70 years ago, was
adapted to large-scale recovery.
Cooperative Investigations at the Uni
verslty OF California Medical School
showed that there was high activity
against tuberculosis in mice, both when
lupulon was given by intramuscliiar in
lection or by mouth. Confirmatory tests
with mice and guinea pigs now are
under way at several institutions.
More than 20 pounds of the substance
have been prepared, and it soon will be
tested with human beings It showed
very low toxic effect with the test
animals Preliminary tests demonstrate
that when taken by mouth it creates
serious stomach disturbances. The re-
suits. however, appear to warrant tests
OF the injection method.
Both lupulon and humulon, the Agri-
culture Department report says are bro
ken down at one stage of the brewing
process. Thus it appears that any anti
tuberculosis value Of beer must come
from some degradation product. The
nature OF this is entirely unknown.
Studies are now under way to measure
accurately the lupulon concentration In
blood after various methods Of admin.
istration.
Extraction of eight new antibioticx
from common vegetables and fruits also
is announced by Agriculture Department
chemists.
Observation-Disclosures of the general
class of penicillin and streptomycin-
have powerful inhibiting action against
various disease-causing organisms.
Two OF these were obtained from cab
bages. One has considerable activity
against fungi but none against bacteria.
The second, tests show, has considerable
activity against both fungi and both of
the common types of bacteria Both are
present in extremely minute amounts.
There are at least three such sub
stances, the chemists found, in the sweet
potato plant. One showed very strong
activity against two fungi that cause
wilt IN the sweet potato itself and In
the tomato. It was useless against bac.
terra. Another, however showed almost
no activity against fungi but was quite
potent against both gram negative and
gram positive bacteria A third, on the
other hand, inhibited the growth of sew
eral bacteria of one type but had no
effect on the other variety
Four were obtained from bananas, es-
pecially the skin. The banana skin has
been called Natures bacteria proof
wrapper" since bacteria never have been
known to penetrate it. The Department
OF Agriculture chemists found that there
were essentially no protective substances
in either the peels or pulp of green to-
matoes but that these made their ap.
pearances as the fruit ripened.
From the skins was obtained one LIQUID
that has strong inhibitive effects against
fungi and all types Of bacteria. Others
were potent against fungi responsible
for moulds.
The effects of none of these extracts
have been tested on human beings, but
the chemists believe that the leads are
quite promising.