[The sedativ-hypnotic principle of hops]

A gas chromatographic method for the quantitative evaluation of 2-methyl-3-butene-2-ol, a sedative hop constituent, is described. Depending on the storing time, the content of this compound was determined in a large number of hops, hop extracts, and drugs. While only traces of the compounds were detected in fresh hops, the concentration continously increased after drying to reach maximum levels (approx. 0.15%) within 2 years of storing at room temperature, irrespective of the specific kind. Hop extracts standardized to alpha-acids, which are available on the market, were found to contain relatively small amounts of 2-methyl-3-butene-2-ol. Only traces of the compounds were discovered in hop containing "sedative dragees", whereas a relatively high concentration was found in a sedative bath preparation. Thus, pharmacologically relevant concentrations of 2-methyl-3-butene-2-ol can be reached in both tea and bath preparations. However, since there is a reason to suppose that 2-methyl-3-butene-2-ol may also be formed IN VIVO by metabolization of alpha-acids, negative conclusions as to the effectiveness of the dragees should not be drawn before completion of the current studies.