Is the alkaloid pipermethystine connected with the claimed liver toxicity of Kava products?
The pyridone alkaloid pipermethystine has been considered to be responsible for alleged hepatoxicity of Kava products. Investigation of a series of retain samples of finished products from the German market and self-produced extracts from root and stem material of Piper methysticum clearly showed that pipermethystine (1) is absent from all root and retain samples and extracts, with a limit of quantification of 45 ppm. As a positive control, leaves of P. methysticum showed an amount of 0.2% of 1. Thus, if there is any hepatotoxicity, compound 1 should not be the responsible constituent in the case reports with ethanolic extracts produced in Germany.
Lechtenberg
M
M
Institute of Pharmaceutical Biology and Phytochemistry, Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität, Münster, Germany.
Quandt
B
B
Schmidt
M
M
Nahrstedt
A
A
D000470:Alkaloids / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D056486:Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury; D002855:Chromatography, Thin Layer; D008401:Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry; D020901:Kava / Q000737:chemistry*; D013058:Mass Spectrometry; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000032:analysis; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000737:chemistry; D018517:Plant Roots / Q000737:chemistry; D018547:Plant Stems / Q000737:chemistry; D011728:Pyridones / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D021241:Spectrometry, Mass, Electrospray Ionization
D000470:Alkaloids; D010936:Plant Extracts; D011728:Pyridones; C448623:pipermethystine