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Review
. 2008 Jan-Mar;26(1):89-112.
doi: 10.1080/10590500801907407.

Toxicity of kava kava

Peter P Fu  1 , Qingsu Xia, Lei Guo, Hongtao Yu, Po-Chuen Chan
Affiliations
Review

Toxicity of kava kava

Peter P Fu et al. J Environ Sci Health C Environ Carcinog Ecotoxicol Rev. 2008 Jan-Mar.

Abstract

Kava is a traditional beverage of various Pacific Basin countries. Kava has been introduced into the mainstream U.S. market principally as an anti-anxiety preparation. The effects of the long-term consumption of kava have not been documented adequately. Preliminary studies suggest possible serious organ system effects. The potential carcinogenicity of kava and its principal constituents are unknown. As such, kava extract was nominated for the chronic tumorigenicity bioassay conducted by the National Toxicology Program (NTP). At present toxicological evaluation of kava extract is being conducted by the NTP. The present review focuses on the recent findings on kava toxicity and the mechanisms by which kava induces hepatotoxicity.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Names and structures of the fourteen kavalactone constituents in kava.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Urinary metabolites formed in male albino rats orally dosed with dihydrokawain.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Urinary metabolites formed in male albino rats orally dosed with 7,8-dihydroyangonin.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Urinary metabolites formed in male albino rats orally dosed with yangonin.
Figure 5
Figure 5
Metabolites formed from rat and human liver microsomal metabolism of kava extract.
Figure 6
Figure 6
Molecular structures of the two mutagenic C-glycoside flavonoids extracted from kava root with n-butanol.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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