Kava (Piper methysticum)
Kava, (Piper methysticum), also known as Kava Kava, is an indigenous plant in Polynesia and throughout the South Pacific, including Melanesia and Micronesia. It has been safely used for over 1,500 years in these cultures as a beverage for both ceremonial and casual consumption. Europeans documented its use when they traveled to Polynesia in the 18th century. In modern Fijian culture, Kava is used as a welcome beverage for visitors, and used in some religious contexts as well. These beverages are prepared from either the fresh or dried roots of the plant.
Uses
It has been traditionally used as a beverage to relieve anxiety, stress, and treat insomnia.
Chemistry/Pharmacology
Analysis of the composition of kava rhizome indicates that the fresh material is on average 80% water. When dried, the rhizome consists of approximately 43% starch, 20% fibers, 12% water, 3.2% sugars, 3.6% proteins, 3.2% minerals, and 15% kavalactones, although the kavalactone component can vary between 3% and 20% of the dry weight of the rhizome, depending on the age of the plant and the cultivar. The bioactive principles of kava rhizome are mostly, if not entirely, contained in the lipid-soluble resin. The compounds of greatest pharmacological interest are the substituted α-pyrones or kavapyrones, commonly known as kavalactones. At least 15 lactones have been isolated from kava rhizome. The following six compounds are present in the highest concentrations and account for approximately 96% of the lipid resin: kavain, dihydrokavain, yangonin, desmethoxyyangonin, methysticin, and dihydromethysticin. Other constituents of kava include chalcones and other flavanones, and conjugated diene ketones.
Kavalactones in kava are thought to be the active constituent that produces skeletal muscle relaxation, non-narcotic anesthesia, and local anesthetic effects.
Clinical Studies
Clinical data suggest benefits with kava as short-term use for generalized anxiety and promoting calmness and has been suggested as an alternative to benzodiazepines. In a human study the authors concluded, “the aqueous Kava preparation produced significant anxiolytic and antidepressant activity and raised no safety concerns at the dose and duration studied. Kava appears equally effective in cases where anxiety is accompanied by depression. This should encourage further study and consideration of globally reintroducing aqueous rootstock extracts of Kava for the management of anxiety.”
A study using chickens experiencing social stress suggested that a particular constituent of Kava, dihydrokavain, may be enough to produce the anxiolytic properties of Kava extract. The amount of anxiety reduction and calmness observed was dose-dependent, with improved benefits observed as the dose concentration increased. Studies of mice show similar benefits with regards to reducing anxiety. Dose dependent, statistically significant behavioral changes of decreased anxiety were shown with the use of Kava extract. With the use of the Kava extracts, the mice exhibited significant anxiolytic-like behavioral changes and sedation that were not mediated through the benzodiazepine binding site on the GABA(A) receptor complex.
Biomechanical Mechanism
The active compounds in kava are called kavalactones. In studies in animals and humans, these compounds appeared to provide pain relief and act as muscle relaxants and anticonvulsants. Kavapyrones are centrally acting skeletal muscle relaxants, anticonvulsants, and peripherally acting local anesthetics. Kavain, one of the main active components of Kava, may effectively modulate excitatory signals in the hippocampus of guinea pigs.
There has been concern regarding hepatotoxicity with Kava use. Possible hepatotoxicity mechanisms are thought to be CYP450 inhibition, reduction in liver glutathione content, or inhibition of COX activity. Thus, patients with history of hepatic impairment of any kind should avoid Kava.
Sources/Articles
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Chua HC, Christensen ET, Hoestgaard-Jensen K, et al. Kavain, the Major Constituent of the Anxiolytic Kava Extract, Potentiates GABAA Receptors: Functional Characteristics and Molecular Mechanism. PLoS One. 2016;11(6):e0157700.
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Witte S, Loew D, Gaus W. Meta-analysis of the efficacy of the acetonic kava-kava extract WS1490 in patients with non-psychotic anxiety disorders. Phytother Res. 2005 Mar;19(3):183-8.
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