In recent years, Kava Kava Root Powder has begun to be accepted by Europeans and Americans and has become one of the best-selling herbal medicines in the United States and Germany. This article mainly reviews the active ingredient Kavalactone in its roots and rhizomes.
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Piper Methysticum Forst is called Kava, Kawa, Ava, Waka, Lawena, Yaqona, etc. due to regional differences. It is a perennial upright shrub medicinal plant of the pepper family. The plant has long been used to relax the body and mood, restore energy and relieve pain.
How Much Kavalactone in Kava Root?
In the roots and rhizomes of kava, mostly α-pyrone derivatives, called kavalactones. It is also called kavapyrones in a narrow sense. Its total content in roots and rhizomes can reach 5.5-8.8%, accounting for 25-70% of the total extract.
After determination, kavapyrones are mainly composed of kavain, dihydrokavain, methysticin, dihydromethysticin, yangonin dehydrokavain and tetrahydroyangonin. Among them, the content of kavain, methysticin and dihydrokavain is more, and the rest are small or trace components. Since kavain, methysticin, dihydrokavain and dihydromethysticin are isomer compounds, their biological activities may be different.
Studies have shown that kava root extract has antispasmodic, antiepileptic, local anesthetic, anti-inflammatory, antiseptic and antifungal properties. In addition, Kavalactone has a regulating effect on peripheral nerve dysfunction and gastrointestinal dysfunction in addition to its analgesic effect. It has significant physiological and pharmacological effects on the central nervous system and peripheral nervous system.
Summary
The physiological and pharmacological effects of Kavalactone, the active ingredient of Kava Kava Root Powder, are diverse. With the deepening of research, more active ingredients and new pharmacological effects will be discovered.