Background and Objectives: The cultivation of Humulus lupulus has been encouraged in Brazil, despite the country’s climate generally being unfavorable for its development. This study aimed to evaluate the chemical composition, antioxidant activity, and photoprotective potential of four H. lupulus varieties, Cascade, Columbus, Comet, and Nugget, cultivated in the northwestern region of Paraná State, Brazil. Methods: The varieties were grown in experimental plots. Crude extracts (CEs) of cones and leaves were obtained through dynamic maceration with solvent renewal (96% ethanol), followed by concentration in a rotary evaporator. Assays for sun protection factor (SPF), total phenolic content (TPC), total flavonoid content (TFC), ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP), 2.2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH^•) radical scavenging activity, and 2.2′-azinobis-(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS^•⁺) were performed to assess antioxidant activity. Chemical profiling was performed using UHPLC-MS/MS. Results: UHPLC-MS/MS analysis revealed the presence of phenolic and organic acids, flavonoids, phenolic aldehydes, alkaloids, and α-benzopyrone-type lactones, with high concentrations of rutin (>500 µg/g) in both cones and leaves. Total phenolic content ranged from 69.70 to 95.95 µg gallic acid equivalent/mg CE; flavonoids from 170.53 to 696.67 µg quercetin equivalent/mg CE; DPPH^• EC₅₀ values ranged from 1.34 to 3.13 mg/mL; FRAP from 1.19 to 2.52 µM ferrous sulfate/mg; ABTS^•⁺ from 5.11 to 22.60 mM Trolox/mg CE; and SPF ranged from 16.02 to 39.48 in the CE of H. lupulus cones and leaves. Conclusions: These findings demonstrate that the cultivated varieties possess antioxidant and photoprotective properties, encouraging further studies to explore their potential applications.

Cultivating Humulus lupulus L. under subtropical conditions is challenging because hops are adapted to temperate climates, where environmental factors influence plant development and secondary metabolism. This study evaluated the essential oil yield and chemical composition of cones and leaves from four hop varieties (Cascade, Columbus, Comet, and Nugget) cultivated under subtropical conditions in northwestern Paraná, Brazil. Essential oils were obtained by hydrodistillation and analyzed by GC–MS. Chemical variability was investigated using Pearson correlation, principal component analysis (PCA), and hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA). Cascade and Columbus showed better agronomic performance, while Nugget and Comet produced the highest essential oil yields in cones (1.532% and 0.695%, respectively). In leaves, Nugget, Cascade, and Comet exhibited the highest yields. Sesquiterpene hydrocarbons predominated in most samples, with α-humulene and β-caryophyllene as major constituents in both organs. Oxygenated sesquiterpenes, including caryophyllene oxide and humulene oxides, were also identified in the essential oils. Phytol was relatively abundant in the leaves of Cascade, Columbus, and Nugget, demonstrating differences between vegetative and reproductive tissues. PCA revealed distinct chemical patterns among varieties and harvest periods, emphasizing the influence of genotype and seasonal conditions. These results demonstrate the potential of hop cultivation under subtropical conditions and highlight leaves as a promising source of volatile compounds for further valorization and industrial applications.

O sistema de produção agrícola da soja (Glycine max [L.] Merrill) está intrinsecamente ligado aos polinizadores, os quais desempenham papel crucial na eficiência e na qualidade da produção. Os polinizadores, como abelhas, borboletas e outros insetos, desempenham um papel vital na polinização das plantas de soja, favorecendo sua reprodução e produtividade. No entanto, as práticas agrícolas intensivas, como o uso excessivo de agrotóxicos, assim como as alterações climáticas, representam ameaças significativas aos polinizadores. A exposição aos agrotóxicos causa efeitos prejudiciais, como a diminuição da população de polinizadores e a redução da diversidade genética. Para garantir uma produção sustentável de soja é crucial adotar práticas agrícolas que preservem os ecossistemas, reduzem o uso de agrotóxicos e favoreçam a biodiversidade nas áreas de cultivo. A implementação de estratégias de manejo integrado de pragas, a criação de áreas de refúgio para os polinizadores e a assistência técnica aos produtores rurais baseada em práticas agrícolas sustentáveis são passos importantes para preservar a relação benéfica entre soja e os polinizadores, assegurando assim a continuidade e a qualidade da produção agrícola.