Kava Kava Extract

What is Kava extract?

kava kava extract

Kava has been a controversial herbal extract in the dietary supplement industry since 2002. In the last 15 years, Kava extract has been restricted in the Great Britain (UK), Germany, Switzerland, Canada, Australia, France, and many other countries following reports that it was linked to serious toxic liver injury. Then the good news comes! Kava kava extract is back! Kava Ban in Germany is officially repealed in 2014. Kava extract supplements are legal and have never been banned in the United States. Australia’s Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) amended its regulations to approve water-soluble kava extracts and dried kava rhizome for use in tea bags for over-the-counter (OTC) therapeutic use in 2005, thus restricting use of alcoholic and/or acetonic kava extracts. More and more countries are admitting kava’s safe status, and the market for kava extract is encouraging and promising.

Kava is actually a medically established stress-relieving root which has been referred to as “the ideal anti-anxiety herb on the planet.” It is recognized for its capability to generate a delighted, calming effect, and it has been utilized by folks from the South Pacific for more than 3000 years. The Latin name of kava kava is Piper methysticum, meaning “intoxicating pepper.”

Constituents of kava extract

From the introduction, we know that kavalactones are the active ingredients in kava plant. However, kavalactones are not a single compound, but a mixture of many components. So there is no CAS number, molecular formula or weight for kavalactones. More than 19 kavalactones ingredients have been isolated from kava root, of which six are major constituents of kava lactones:
1. Yangonin
2. Dihydrokavain
3. Kavain
4. Dihydromethysticin
5. Methysticin
6. Demethoxyyangonin

kava extract hplc

HPLC Chromatogram shows that there are six major peaks with retention times of 11.28, 12.28, 15.25, 17.57, 19.57, and 25.75 minutes, corresponding to desmethoxyyangonin, dihydrokavain, yangonin, kavain, dihydromethysticin, and methysticin, respectively.

Yangonin is highest (about 42%) followed by dihydrokawain (35%) and kawain (9%) dihydromethysticin (4%) methysticin (3%) and 5,6-dehydrokawain (2%) The two kawain molecules have larger ranges of probable content, as a consequence of getting interconverted within the Kava plant. 12 other lesser lactones comprise 4% of total kavalactones by weight.

Then a question is asked, what else are inside the extract except the kavalactones?

compounds detected in kava root

In accordance with Wikipedia, Kava contains a range of chemical compounds identified as pyrones or kavalactones. Typically fresh kava root includes 80% water. Dried root contains roughly 43% starch, 20% fibers, 15% kavalactones, 12% water, 3.2% sugars, 3.6% protein, and 3.2% minerals.

Specifications of Kava extract

In the nutritional supplements, there are several kava specifications available. The popular specs of kava extract from Chinese suppliers and manufactures are 30% kavalactones, 50% kavalactones and 70% kavalactones. The content of kavalactones in kava kava extract should comprise at least 30% of a standardized product to realize its full benefit. Therefore, when purchasing Kava Kava, ensure it meets the highest possible standard. 70% Kavalactones may be the highest spec on the market, but supplement brands seldom use such high spec due to cost consideration.

On the finished supplements market, Kava extract can be purchased in tablet form, tincture, soft-gel, liquid, capsule and powdered form. More than 99% nutritional companies use the 30% Kavalactones in their supplement formulas. In their supplement facts, usually write “Kava Kava Extract (Piper methysticum) (Root) (Standardized to contain min. 30% Kavalactones)”. If you have specific requirement on the concentration of Kavalactones, please kindly let us know, we are able to customize according to your demands.

Kava market analysis

The kava crisis started in the year of 2001, when health authorities of Swiss and German began to restrict the sale of kava-containing food and medicinal items because of a small variety of cases of adverse reactions reportedly related with the use of kava (Piper Methysticum).

The unfavorable publicity of kava in the previous decades, collectively together with quite a few kava bans, alerts and market recalls, has led to a prejudice to kava. Fortunately, the lifting of sanctions against kava supplements in the European market inspires confidence in other markets. Though Kava’s reinstatement is only limited to Germany market, it is a great development in Kava history, which is also very important news for the market in the United States.

In addition, more evidence has proved kava’s benefits and safe status. Researchers in the University of Minnesota (UM) and Texas Tech University lately studied the effects of a particular preparation with the kava root (Piper methysticum) on lung cancer in mice, and have figured out that the chemically defined extract might have the prospective to decrease the possible risk of lung cancer in humans, as outlined by a press release issued by UM.

Whilst proof demonstrating the anti-anxiety advantages of kava exists, clinical study efforts are underway to decide its possible benefits with regards to sleep at the same time as recovery from sports and intense workout.

Kava extract is to be legal in many European countries gradually, and more proven benefits to be carried out all over the world, we are confident that there is a promising future for the kava supplement market.

Mechanism of action of Kava extract

How does kava extract work? The detailed mode of action of kava is not fully understood. Many researchers believe kava works in the below theories:

1.For anxiety mechanism

Kava extract is believed to be a good allosteric modulator of the GABA system. When GABA levels are elevated, they cease your neurons from becoming overly excited, lowering how often they fire. As a result of these effects, kava kava is frequently utilized to treat symptoms of anxiety. Despite the fact that Kava helps customers loosen up, it does not hinder the capability to concentrate.

2.For euphoric mechanism

Kava’s euphoric properties and reported efficacy against social anxiety might come from its dopaminergic properties – this can be the “true” “feel-good” property from the Kava. Especially, it works as a MAO-B inhibitior which prevents the breakdown of dopamine hence raising the levels inside the periphery, brain steam, hypothalamus and so forth.

Kava has some similarities to Cannabis; actually, it acts on the exact same receptors cannabis acts on to modulate brain-neural activity. Kava’s constitutes stimulate the CB1 receptor; but much less potently than THC along with other ‘true’ cannbinoids. Kava has sodium channel blocking (Na+) and calcium/calmodulin channel blocking properties (Ca2+) – it also increases potassium channel (K+) outflow which is comparable to the mechanism of action of mood stabilizer drugs, accounting for a few of Kava’s central anti-anxiety effects at the same time.

Kava extract benefits

Kava aids calm occasional anxiety, pressure, and restlessness, and also beneficial to sleep issues (insomnia). Meanwhile, kava Extract supports a sense of emotional well-being and relaxation in times of mild stress without making sleepiness.

Kava & ANTI-ANXIETY

Kava is recognized for its mood elevating, relaxing effect and is usually employed to relieve anxiety.
Kava kava is well known for its relaxing and calming effects. Kava extract is discovered to calm the nerves while doesn’t interfere together with the mental alertness of the person. Kava kava doesn’t cause drowsiness like anti-anxiety and anti-depression drugs.While Kava has been proven a useful treatment for anxiety and the feeling of nervousness, it is better used as an occasional remedy rather than daily.

Kava & Sleep improvement

Kava provides you with a sleepy feeling without knocking you out of trouble and without causing you to “dull” and unfocused. You’ll stay sharp and focused, in a position to think and don’t forget clearly before you get to sleep into blissful sleep.

In lots of countries around the world, Kava is a well-liked option to alcohol. It’s non-addictive and doesn’t impair your brain like alcohol does. Additionally, it lacks the violence creating effects of beer and hard liquor.

A substantial shortening from the sleep latency in sleep-disturbed rats was observed following a administration of kava-kava extract in a dose of 300 mg/kg. Delta activity seemed to be considerably elevated throughout non-REM sleep in sleep-disturbed rats.

Kava extract side effects

Kava supplements are thought to be safe when taken correctly for a short period. Kava is legal in the United States and recognized by the Food and drug administration(FDA). However, Kava Kava might be toxic if consumed in higher than suggested dosage for lengthy amounts of time. Short-term use of Kava might be safe. The negative effects credited to kava use are thought mild or minimal, aside from the appearance of an epidermis lesion. In 1997, the Kava Committee of the American Herbal Items Association (AHPA) commissioned research on kava. The resulting report came to the conclusion that “Without medical supervision and advice, time period of kava use ought to be restricted to a time of three months.” It’s suggested to see your health care professional before you take Kava Kava in any forms. Therefore, if you see any sudden alterations in your wellbeing when using this herbal product, talk to your physician as quickly as possible.

Kava extract dosage

Before we to define the dosage of kava extract, we need to distinguish two terms, kava extract and kavalactones. Kavalactones is the active ingredients in kava plant, and many supplements just mention how many kava extract you need to take, while do not illustrate how many kavalactones you need to take. There are many forms of kava extract, like ratio extract, standardized kava extract with various concentration, 30% kavalactones, 50% kavalactones, and up to kavalactones, etc. It is the best way to measure the kavalactones dosage rather than kava extract dosage on the nutritional panel.

The German Commission E recommends dosages of kavalactones 60 to 120 mg daily for no longer than 3 months without medical evaluation. Clinical studies have reported that dosages of kavalactones 60 to 240 mg/day are effective. In this sense, for 30% kavalactones, you need to take kava supplement 200mg to 360mg each day, and doses of up to 800mg of the kava extract have been tolerated for short periods of time.

Where to Buy Kava Kava extract

Most of the kava kava extract raw materials are exported from China, and Herb Nutritionals Co., Ltd is one of them. Our kava extract is a raw ingredient in bulk powdered form, packed in 25 kg drum, standardized to 30% kavalactones, or higher according to our client’s demand. If you want to inquiry about kava price, documents like MSDS, COA, specification ranges, and other technical information, please contact us directly via mail or phone call.