Anxiolytic effects of kava extract and kavalactones in the chick social separation-stress paradigm.
BACKGROUND
Piper methysticum extract (kava kava) possesses numerous therapeutic properties, but it is unknown which of its principle constituents (kavalactones) subserve such effects.


OBJECTIVE
This experiment sought to characterize the putative anxiolytic properties of P. methysticum extract and its six principle kavalactones in the chick social separation-stress paradigm.


METHODS
Eight-day-old chicks received intraperitoneal injections of either vehicle, chlordiazepoxide (5.0 mg/ml per kg), P. methysticum extract (containing 30% kavalactones), kavain, dihydrokavain, methysticin, dihydromethysticin, yangonin, or desmethoxyyangonin (30 mg/ml per kg for kava compounds) 30 min prior to being tested in the presence of two conspecifics or in isolation for a 3-min observation period. Latency to adopt a ventral recumbent posture to index sedation, number of vocalizations to index separation distress, and a composite pain score (in response to 50 microliters 0.10% formalin injection into the plantar surface of the foot) to index stress-induced analgesia served as dependent measures.


RESULTS
Both chlordiazepoxide and P. methysticum extract attenuated separation-induced distress vocalizations and stress-induced analgesia. Dihydrokavain attenuated separation-induced distress vocalizations.


CONCLUSIONS
These findings suggest that the anxiolytic effects of P. methysticum extract may be mediated, in part, by dihydrokavain.
Smith
K K
KK
Department of Psychology, University of Mississippi, Peabody Building, P.O. Box 1848, Oxford, MS 38677, USA.
Dharmaratne
H R
HR
Feltenstein
M W
MW
Broom
S L
SL
Roach
J T
JT
Nanayakkara
N P
NP
Khan
I A
IA
Sufka
K J
KJ
D000818:Animals; D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D002645:Chickens; D002707:Chlordiazepoxide / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D020901:Kava / Q000627:therapeutic use; D007783:Lactones / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D008517:Phytotherapy; D010946:Plants, Medicinal; D011753:Pyrones / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000523:psychology; D014828:Vocalization, Animal / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology
D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents; D007783:Lactones; D011753:Pyrones; C113859:dihydrokavain; D002707:Chlordiazepoxide