In vivo and in vitro studies of the role of lyophilised blond Lager beer and some bioactive components in the modulation of degenerative processes

•The nutraceutic potential of a blond Lager beer and its bioactive components was examined.•In vivo safety endpoints were checked in the Drosophila model organism.•In vitro effects were tested in HL-60 and NIH3T3 tumour model cells.•Beer LBLB showed an important activity in the modulation of degenerative processes.•Xanthohumol and folic acid did not have beneficial effects like what full beer does. The aim of the present study was to examine the nutraceutic potential of lyophilised blond Lager beer, as well as two of its bioactive components: xanthohumol and folic acid. Several toxicity, antitoxicity, genotoxicity, antigenotoxicity and longevity endpoints were checked in the SMART in vivo Drosophila system. Cytotoxicity in HL-60 promyelocytic and NIH3T3 mouse fibroblasts cells, proapototic DNA fragmentation, comet assay, macroautophagy activity and methylation status were tested in in vitro assays. Lyophilised blond Lager beer could be proposed as a substance with an important nutraceutical value, because of its hopeful results as a lifespan promoter, DNA protection against free radicals in the animal model and its chemopreventive activity in HL-60 cells and enhacer of macroautophagy at moderate doses in NIH3T3 inmortal cells. Only xanthohumol mimics the biological activities found in lyophilised beer.