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A key ingredient in beer could be used in the fight against cancer and inflammatory diseases.

Hops, which give the tipple its distinctive bitter taste, pack a surprisingly healthful punch with their ability to halt bacterial growth and disease.

They contain acids called humulones and lupulones which scientists hope to be able to turn into drugs.

University of Idaho researchers are working to extract the compounds and also find a way of creating them in the lab.

Dr Kristopher Waynant said they were “very close” to achieving this after a lot of “trial and error”.

He is planning to collaborate with biologists and medical researchers to develop active agents for pharmaceuticals to treat cancers or inflammatory diseases from the beer-inspired compounds.

The findings are due to be presented at the National Meeting of the American Chemical Society.