Popular Herb Kava Is Vindicated - for the Time Being

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Popular Herb Kava Is Vindicated - for the Time Being

 

 

Provided by NEWSWISE/Science News on 10/30/2003

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Popular Herb Kava Is Vindicated - for the Time Being

Source: South Dakota State University

NEWSWISE Science News, 30-Oct-2003 --

When all else fails, blame it on kava!

Unfortunately, says Yadhu Singh, professor of pharmaceutical sciences at South

Dakota State University, that's what is happening in some countries around the

world as more people are seeing their physicians for liver-related ailments.

The common denominator, according to many in the medical community, is kava, a

popular pharmaceutical herbal supplement used successfully to treat stress,

anxiety, restlessness, and insomnia.

However, after much discussion and research, including extensive analysis by

Singh, he says there is convincing proof that kava is safe, although more

research on the matter is warranted.

" There is no strong evidence that kava consumption in the traditional manner has

severe adverse health effects, " says Singh. " However, there is evidence to

provide some concern about liver toxicity related to pharmaceutical kava

preparations, although it is not sufficient to make firm conclusions. "

The kava herb is derived from the kava plant, a robust, well-branching perennial

shrub. It thrives at altitudes of between 150 to 300 feet above sea level and

grows well in stony ground, both when cultivated and in the wild.

The plant can be found extensively on the islands of the Pacific Ocean,

including Fiji, which is located northeast of Australia and north of New

Zealand. It's the native home of Singh, who lived in the country for about

thirty years and taught at the University of the South Pacific in Suva, Fiji.

Centuries of kava use

Singh was in Suva last November to attend the Pacific Kava Research Symposium

" to clarify this whole situation, " he says. " We were all mystified on why this

(liver toxicity) was happening. It is of crucial importance there, because a lot

of these countries depend on kava for economic reasons, mainly for exporting. "

The traditional manner of consuming kava dates back many centuries. Kava

acquired important symbolic meanings and with it came certain rules and

procedures for its preparation, distribution among participants, and

consumption.

Besides being the social beverage for chiefs and noblemen, it was also used to

welcome distinguished visitors at formal gatherings. In time, it was used in

almost all phases of life on the islands, including ceremonies, rituals, and

religious activities.

Many medicinal purposes were reported as well. In Hawaii, for example, it was

used to soothe the nerves, to induce relaxation, to counteract fatigue, and for

congestion in the urinary tract, asthma, rheumatism, and weight reduction.

The traditional manner in making kava is to take the dried roots and lower stem

of the plant and reduce them to fine particles. Water is poured into a large

bowl containing the particles. The mixture is worked together, scooped up in a

strainer and the infusion drained into the bowl, which is poured into a coconut

shell cup for serving.

In the western world, instead of using pure water, organic solvents are utilized

to extract the final kava product, which is then put into pill and other forms.

Organic solvents are used because they extract larger amounts of kavalactones,

the active ingredients, and the procedure is more efficient than water.

Contrasting methods

The two different ways of making kava have become the central focus of the kava

investigation.

" We aren't sure if it's the method of extraction that is causing the toxicity, "

says Singh, who points out that the kava supplement has been banned in countries

like Great Britain, Switzerland, and Germany. " Water only extracts those things

that are soluble in water, but with organic solvents, there is a good

possibility other substances that may be toxic are also extracted. "

To verify that the water extraction process does not cause toxicity, since

island inhabitants report no liver problems, Singh and Ashwini Devkota, a junior

SDSU pharmacy student from Nepal, conducted a research project to prove the

point.

" We evaluated the level of toxicity of kava on the liver function of young rats

by measuring the effects on certain enzymes, " explains Singh. " A significant

increase in these enzymes would be considered an indication of liver toxicity. "

After a few weeks of monitoring the animals, blood was obtained and serum

prepared for enzyme analysis. The results showed there were no notable

differences in the body weight and enzyme activity of the animals after two

different dosage levels of kava.

" The data shows that kava did not produce any significant effects on the normal

biological markers of liver toxicity, " notes Singh, who indicates the research

will now turn its attention to acetone extracts of kava. " Acetone is a very

common organic solvent used to extract kava, so that's the next step in our

research effort. "

International conference slated

The symposium Singh attended voted to hold an international kava conference in

November 2003. The meeting will include representatives involved in the medical,

pharmaceutical, social, trade, and economic aspects of kava.

The conference will have two goals, according to Singh. One: consider

multi-national clinical studies on the safety of traditional kava use in the

community, and, two: collaborative laboratory research on toxicity of

traditional kava extracts and kava-based pharmaceutical products.

" We want to provide a clear statement of the broad issues involved in the safety

of kava use worldwide, " he says. " How safe is kava when consumed both

traditionally or as a pharmaceutical product? We hope to address these issues at

the conference this fall. "

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