title: Chemical archaeology of kava, a potent brew.
abstract: Kava lactones, which are present in the intoxicating Pacific Island drink, kava, have now been detected in a number of archaeological artefacts using selected-ion monitoring techniques in conjunction with gas chromatography/electron impact-mass spectrometry. Thus it is now possible to link unequivocally kava drinking, a major aspect of the ceremonial culture of many Pacific societies, to the archaeological record. In addition, a new variation of the kava lactone skeleton was tentatively identified in the form of 7,8-dihydro-5,6-dehydrokawain and 7,8-dihydro-5,6-dehydromethysticin.
authors: Research School of Biological Sciences, Australian National University, Canberra.
authors: C H
authors: CH
authors: Hocart
authors: B
authors: B
authors: Fankhauser
authors: D W
authors: DW
authors: Buckle
mesh_terms: D001106:Archaeology; D001628:Beverages / Q000032:analysis*; D005367:Fiji; D008401:Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry; D020901:Kava; D007783:Lactones / Q000032:analysis; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000737:chemistry*; D010946:Plants, Medicinal; D009514:Vanuatu
chemical_list: D007783:Lactones; D010936:Plant Extracts