ReviewProposal for a Kava Quality Standardization Code

Rare cases of hepatotoxicity emerged with the use of kava drugs and dietary supplements prepared from rhizomes and roots of the South Pacific plant kava (Piper methysticum). Their psychoactive, anxiolytic, relaxing, and recreational ingredients are the kavalactones kavain, dihydrokavain, methysticin, dihydromethysticin, yangonin, and desmethoxyyangonin, but there is little evidence that these kavalactones or the non-kavalactones pipermethystine and flavokavain B are the culprits of the adverse hepatic reactions. It rather appears that poor quality of the kava material was responsible for the liver toxicity. Analysis of existing kava quality standardizations with focus on chemical, agricultural, manufacturing, nutritional, regulatory, and legislation backgrounds showed major shortcomings that could easily explain quality problems. We therefore suggest a uniform, internationally accepted device for kava quality standardizations that are in the interest of the consumers because of safety reasons and will meet the expectations of kava farmers, pharmaceutical manufacturers, regulators of agencies, and legislators. The initial step resides in the establishment of Pan-Pacific kava quality legislation as an important part of the proposed Kava Quality Standardization Code. In conclusion, a sophisticated approach to establish kava quality standardizations is needed for safe human use of kava as relaxing traditional beverages, the anxiolytic drugs, and recreational dietary supplements.

► Rare cases of hepatotoxicity emerged in association with the use of the anxiolytic herb kava as drug and dietary supplement. ► To overcome this toxicity problem, strict kava quality standardizations are required. ► We therefore analyzed existing quality standards of traditional aqueous kava beverages and kava drugs and dietary supplements. ► Quality shortcomings emerged in the chemical, agricultural, manufactural, nutritional, regulatory, and legislation areas. ► A Kava Quality Standardization Code for farmers, manufacturers, regulators, and legislators for safe kava use is suggested.