Is the alkaloid pipermethystine connected with the claimed liver toxicity of Kava products?

Lechtenberg M., Quandt B., Schmidt M., Nahrstedt A.

Forschungsartikel (Zeitschrift)

Zusammenfassung

The pyridone alkaloid pipermethystine has been considered to be responsible for alleged hepatoxicity of Kava products. Investigation of a series of retain samples of finished products from the German market and self-produced extracts from root and stem material of Piper methysticum clearly showed that pipermethystine (1) is absent from all root and retain samples and extracts, with a limit of quantification of 45 ppm. As a positive control, leaves of P. methysticum showed an amount of 0.2% of 1. Thus, if there is any hepatotoxicity, compound 1 should not be the responsible constituent in the case reports with ethanolic extracts produced in Germany.

Details zur Publikation

Seiten: 4
Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2008
Sprache, in der die Publikation verfasst ist: Englisch
Link zum Volltext: http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?partnerID=HzOxMe3b&scp=38849086101&origin=inward