Abstract
Recently, a worldwide discussion on the potential liver toxicity of extracts obtained from Kava (Piperis methystici rhizoma) was initiated by a series of reports resulting in a ban by the German Federal Institute for Drugs and Medicinal Products (BfArM) that was followed by other countries [1]. However, most cases were evaluated as “doubtful“ on causality assessment [2]. Several theories evolved as to why liver failure may have occurred [1]. Dragull et al. [3] suggested the alkaloid pipermethystin being responsible for hepatotoxicity. We therefore investigated various kava preparations including a series of retain samples of kava extract containing products from the German market, self-produced extracts from root and stem material obtained from two identified kava cultivars (“noble kava“ Ava La'au from Samoa, “Tudei kava“ Palisi from Vanuatu; extracted with ethanol 96% respectively acetone 75% or 100%), and an extract from the leaves of Piper methysticum G. Forst. (as a positive control). Samples were analyzed for their content of pipermethystin by GC-ESI-MS using total ion currency (TIC) and selective ion monitoring (SIM) detection. Limit of detection (LOD) was about 0.009%. As a result, pipermethystin was detected in the leaves (0.2%), but no pipermethystin above LOD was detected in all other samples except one where a peak below 0.02% was found at the position corresponding to pipermethystin. Thus, if there is hepatotoxicity, it should not be connected to the alkaloid pipermethystin.
Published Version
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