Piper methysticum Rootstock Powder

DEFINITION

The article consists of the dried rootstock (rhizome) of Piper methysticum G. Forst (Family Piperaceae) reduced to powder or very fine powder. It contains not less than 4.5% of kavalactones, calculated as the sum of methysticin, dihydromethysticin, kawain, dihydrokawain, yangonin, and desmethoxyyangonin on the dried basis.

POTENTIAL CONFOUNDING MATERIALS

Piper wichmannii C.DC.

Piper methysticum var. wichmannii (C.DC) Lebot. 

CONSTITUENTS OF INTEREST

Kavalactones: Kawain (kavain), dihydrokawain, methysticin, dihydromethysticin, yangonin, and demethoxyyangonin

Chalconoides: Flavokavain A-C 

IDENTIFICATION

• A. Botanical Characteristics