A substance in hops, part of a type of hemp plant used in brewing beer, has been found to neutralize a bacterial toxin believed to cause stomach cancer, researchers said.

The researchers from Chiba University's medical school and Asahi Breweries Ltd. will report their findings on the effect of the substance on helicobacter pylori at a meeting of the Japanese Society for Bacteriology in Tokyo in April, they said.

Infections involving the helicobacter pylori bacterium also cause most stomach ulcers, which some studies suggest can lead to cancer.

It is expected the substance, hop polyphenol, will contribute to developing medicines for digestive diseases.