The LIGNICOAT project team is pleased to announce the publication of a new open-access article titled “Green Antimicrobials: Innovative Applications of Hops Extracts as Biocontrol Agents” in the journal Pathogens (Impact Factor: 3.3).
Led by researchers from the Instituto Tecnológico Agrario de Castilla y León (ITACyL) and collaborators, this study investigates the antimicrobial potential of hop extract fractions from six hop varieties, alongside 21 plant-derived compounds. The article suggests the promise of hop-derived soft resins as eco-friendly antimicrobial agents, offering sustainable solutions for industries combating microbial resistance.
Key Findings:
- Superior Antibacterial Activity: Soft resins exhibited the strongest antibacterial effects, with MIC90 (i.e., minimum inhibitory concentration required to inhibit the growth of 90% of a microbial population) values as low as 25 μg/mL (Fuggle variety) against Staphylococcus aureus and 50 μg/mL (Chinook variety) against Escherichia coli.
- Varietal Differences: The antimicrobial efficacy varied across hop varieties, driven by differences in chemical composition, particularly α-acids, β-acids, and xanthohumol content.
- Plant-Derived Compounds: Natural compounds like carvacrol, thymol, and eugenol showed significant antimicrobial activity at low concentrations, with MIC90 values below 500 μg/mL, highlighting their potential for biocontrol applications.
- Limited Antifungal Activity: While hop extracts showed negligible effects against Aspergillus niger, thymol demonstrated inhibitory activity, suggesting species-specific antifungal potential.
- Sustainable Innovation: The study adopts hop by-products from the brewing industry, aligning with circular economy principles and reducing reliance on synthetic antimicrobials.
Future research will focus on isolating active compounds from hop fractions, particularly soft resins, to enhance their efficacy and scalability for industrial applications.
Read the full open-access article here.
