title: Detection of flavokavins (A, B, C) in cultivars of kava (Piper methysticum) using high performance thin layer chromatography (HPTLC).
abstract: Kava (Piper methysticum) is used to prepare the traditional beverage of the Pacific islands. In Europe, kava has been suspected to cause hepatoxicity with flavokavin B (FKB) considered as a possible factor. The present study describes an HPTLC protocol for rapid screening of samples. The objectives are: to detect the presence of flavokavins in extracts and to compare the FKB levels in different cultivars. Overall, 172 samples originating from four cultivars groups (noble, medicinal, two-days and wichmannii), were analysed. Results indicate that the ratio FKB/kavalactones is much higher in two-days (0.39) and wichmannii (0.32) compared to nobles (0.09) and medicinal cultivars (0.10). For each group, the ratios flavokavins/kavalactones do not change significantly between roots, stumps or basal stems and among clones, indicating that they are genetically controlled. This protocol has good accuracy and is cost efficient for routine analysis. We discuss how it could be used for quality control.
authors.affiliation: CIRAD, UMR AGAP, PO Box 946, Port-Vila, Vanuatu. Electronic address: lebot@vanuatu.com.vu.
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Lebot
authors.affiliation: Institut de Chimie de Nice, University of Nice-Sophia Antipolis, CNRS, UMR 7272, Parc Valrose, 06108 Nice Cedex 2, France; BotaniCert, Innovagrasse, 4 traverse Dupont, 06130 Grasse, France.
authors.forename: T K T
authors.initials: TK
authors.lastname: Do
authors.affiliation: University of Lyon, CNRS, UMR 5557, Ecologie Microbienne, F-69622 Lyon, France.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Legendre
mesh_terms: D001628:Beverages / Q000032:analysis; D002599:Chalcone / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000032:analysis; D002855:Chromatography, Thin Layer / Q000379:methods*; D005419:Flavonoids / Q000032:analysis*; D063427:Food Quality; D020901:Kava / Q000737:chemistry*; D010139:Pacific Islands; D018517:Plant Roots / Q000737:chemistry; D011786:Quality Control
chemical_list: D005419:Flavonoids; C500809:flavokawain A; C452039:flavokawain B; D002599:Chalcone
keywords: Flavokavins; HPTLC; Kava; Kavalactones; Quality