Kavalactone

Kavapyrones Kavalactone or are a group of pharmacologically active organic compounds that are present in the kava plant. By 2006, 18 different kavapyrones were identified.

Properties

All kavapyrones are substituted six-membered lactones, known as styryl -alpha - pyrones. They can be distinguished into two groups, and the Enolidpyrone Dienolidpyrone. In the first group of the lactone ring has a double bond at the second two double bonds are present. Common to all kavapyrones is a β - constant methoxyl group in the lactone ring:

All kavapyrones are crystalline, very slightly soluble in water but readily soluble in non-polar solvents in its purest form. All of them are chemically closely related and therefore tend to form mixed crystals. The illustration in the pure form is associated with a high expenditure.

The most important representatives of the group of substances are: kavain, dihydrokavain, methysticin, dihydromethysticin, yangonin and Desmethoxyyangonin:

Extraction

The production of pharmaceutically usable extracts of the kava plant by extraction with a suitable solvent mixture. With ethanol / water extracts obtained with a maximum of 30 % of kavapyrones, with acetone / water extracts with about 70%.