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Ingredients & Chemistry

The pharmacological secrets of Piper methysticum: Kavalactones, chemotypes, and mechanisms of action.

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Brief & Concise

Die Hauptwirkstoffe von Kava sind Kavalactone – eine Gruppe von 18 verschiedenen Verbindungen. Die sechs wichtigsten Kavalactone bestimmen Wirkung und Qualität des Kavas.

The psychoactive effect of Kava is primarily produced by a group of compounds known as Kavalactones (or Kava Pyrones). Unlike many other psychoactive plants (such as coffee or tea), Kava does not contain alkaloids as its main active ingredients.

So far, 18 different Kavalactones have been identified, of which six are responsible for over 96% of the pharmacological effect. These six 'Major Kavalactones' form the basis for the classification and quality determination of Kava.

The 6 Main Kavalactones

Each Kavalactone has a unique effect profile. The overall effect of a Kava strain results from the specific mixing ratio of these six components.

#NameAbbreviationPrimary Effect
1DesmethoxyyangoninDMYFocus, dopamine increase, euphoria. New (2026): Potent CB2 receptor agonist with anti-osteoporotic effects (Mening'oo et al.).
2DihydrokavainDHKStrong muscle relaxation, analgesia (pain relief)
3YangoninYStimulating, acts on CB1 receptors (endocannabinoid system)
4KavainKAnxiolytic (anxiety-relieving), mood-lifting, mental focus. Responsible for the 'heady' effect. Review 2026 (Pampita et al., 164 Ref.): Confirmed anti-inflammatory, neuroprotective, and anticarcinogenic properties via NF-κB/MAPK signaling pathways.
5DihydromethysticinDHMSedating, long-lasting. High concentrations can cause nausea (typical for Tudei Kava).
6MethysticinMStrongly sedating, anxiolytic, neuroprotective.

The Chemotype System

To predict the effect of a Kava strain, a 6-digit code is used that lists the Kavalactones in descending order of their concentration. This is called the Chemotype.

Example: Chemotype 426531

This means that Kavain (4) has the highest concentration, followed by Dihydrokavain (2), then Methysticin (6), and so on.

Noble Kava vs. Tudei Kava

The chemotype is the most important tool for distinguishing high-quality 'Noble Kava' (noble kava) from the inferior 'Tudei Kava' (two-day kava).

  • Noble Kava: Chemotypes usually start with 4 (Kavain) or 2 (Dihydrokavain). This provides a pleasant, anxiety-relieving effect without a long 'hangover'.
    Typical codes: 423165, 426531, 246531
  • Tudei Kava: Chemotypes often start with 5 (Dihydromethysticin) or 2 with a very high proportion of 5. DHM is broken down very slowly and can lead to days of fatigue and nausea.
    Typical codes: 253461, 526431

Synergies & Entourage Effect

Similar to cannabis (terpenes & cannabinoids), the total extract of Kava is more effective than isolated Kavalactones. This is referred to as the entourage effect.

Isolated Kavain is anxiolytic, but the combination with Yangonin (MAO-B inhibition) and Desmethoxyyangonin (dopamine increase) significantly enhances the mood-lifting effect. Therefore, traditional preparations or full-spectrum extracts are preferred over isolated active ingredients.

Other Ingredients

In addition to the Kavalactones, the root contains:

  • Flavokavins (A, B, C): Chalcones with potential antitumor properties. A study published in 2026 (Zhang et al.) showed protective effects of (E)-Flavokawain A against colon cancer in mice. New (March 2026): Pawa et al. demonstrated that Flavokawain A is a potent and selective MAO-A inhibitor (IC50: 0.077 µM) with confirmed blood-brain barrier permeability – a promising candidate as a natural antidepressant. At extremely high doses, however, flavokavins can be cytotoxic (mainly in Tudei varieties).
  • Alkaloids: Pipermethystin is mainly found in the leaves and stems, not in the root. It is toxic and a main reason why traditionally only the roots are consumed.
  • Starch & Fiber: Make up about 43% of the dry mass and provide the typical consistency of the drink.
  • Minerals: Potassium, calcium, magnesium.

In-Depth Articles

For more detailed information on each topic, visit our specialized subpages:

The 6 Main Kavalactones

Detailed effect profiles for Kavain, Dihydrokavain, Methysticin, Dihydromethysticin, Yangonin, and Desmethoxyyangonin.

Learn more

The Chemotype System

How the 6-digit code predicts the effect and distinguishes Noble Kava from Tudei.

Learn more

Based on studies by

Vincent Lebot

Dr. Vincent Lebot

ORCID

CIRAD, French Agricultural Research Centre for International Development

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With contributions from

Oliver Grundmann

This wiki is a curated resource that synthesizes research from peer-reviewed studies and expert researchers. It is not written by the researchers listed above, but rather based on their published work.

Scientific Sources

The information on this page is based on the following scientific studies and publications:

Measuring the Chemical and Cytotoxic Variability of Commercially Available Kava (Piper methysticum G. Forster)

Unknown (Unknown) – Unknown

View study

In Vitro Toxicity of Kava Alkaloid, Pipermethystine, in HepG2 Cells Compared to Kavalactones

Nerurkar P.V., Dragull K., Tang C.S. (2004) – Toxicological Sciences

View study

Kava: The Pacific Elixir - The Definitive Guide to Its Ethnobotany, History, and Chemistry

Vincent Lebot, Mark Merlin, Lamont Lindstrom (1997) – Yale University Press

View study
View all studies
Last updated: March 18, 2026•New study added