Desmethoxyyangonin or 5,6-dehydrokavain is one of the six main

kavalactone Kavalactones are a class of lactone compounds found in kava roots and ''Alpinia zerumbet'' (shell ginger) and in several Gymnopilus, Phellinus and Inonotus fungi. Some kavalactones are bioactive. They are responsible for the psychoactive, analges ...

s found in the '' Piper methysticum'' (kava) plant. It is a reversible inhibitor of monoamine oxidase B (MAO-B), likely contributing to increased

dopamine Dopamine (DA, a contraction of 3,4-dihydroxyphenethylamine) is a neuromodulatory molecule that plays several important roles in cells. It is an organic chemical of the catecholamine and phenethylamine families. It is an amine synthesized ...

levels in the brain’s

nucleus accumbens The nucleus accumbens (NAc or NAcc; also known as the accumbens nucleus, or formerly as the ''nucleus accumbens septi'', Latin for ' nucleus adjacent to the septum') is a region in the basal forebrain rostral to the preoptic area of the hypo ...

and supporting kava’s attention-enhancing effects. Unlike other

kavalactones Kavalactones are a class of lactone compounds found in kava roots and '' Alpinia zerumbet'' (shell ginger) and in several Gymnopilus, Phellinus and Inonotus fungi. Some kavalactones are bioactive. They are responsible for the psychoactive, analg ...

, it does not modulate GABA_A receptors. It also strongly induces the liver enzyme CYP3A23. It is an active compound in '' Alpinia pricei'' with anti-inflammatory and liver-protective effects that improve survival in mice with endotoxin-induced hepatitis.

Pharmacology

Desmethoxyyangonin is a reversible

inhibitor Inhibitor or inhibition may refer to: Biology * Enzyme inhibitor, a substance that binds to an enzyme and decreases the enzyme's activity * Reuptake inhibitor, a substance that increases neurotransmission by blocking the reuptake of a neurotransmi ...

of monoamine oxidase B (MAO-B). Kava is able to increase

levels in the

and desmethoxyyangonin likely contributes to this effect. This, along with several other catecholamines, may be responsible for the purported attention-promoting effects of kava. Unlike the other major kavalactones, desmethoxyyangonin does not appear to act as a GABA_A receptor positive allosteric modulator. Desmethoxyyangonin has marked activity on the induction of CYP3A23. It is an active compound in the

Formosa Taiwan, officially the Republic of China (ROC), is a country in East Asia. The island of Taiwan, formerly known to Westerners as Formosa, has an area of and makes up 99% of the land under ROC control. It lies about across the Taiwan Strait f ...

n plant '' Alpinia pricei'' and exhibits potent

anti-inflammatory Anti-inflammatory is the property of a substance or treatment that reduces inflammation, fever or swelling. Anti-inflammatory drugs, also called anti-inflammatories, make up about half of analgesics. These drugs reduce pain by inhibiting mechan ...

and hepatoprotective effects by inhibiting immune cell activation and key inflammatory signaling pathways, significantly improving survival and metabolic balance in mice with endotoxin-induced fulminant

hepatitis Hepatitis is inflammation of the liver parenchyma, liver tissue. Some people or animals with hepatitis have no symptoms, whereas others develop yellow discoloration of the skin and whites of the eyes (jaundice), Anorexia (symptom), poor appetite ...

. Chou T-W, Feng J-H, Huang C-C, Cheng Y-W, Chien S-C, Wang S-Y, et al. (2013) A Plant Kavalactone Desmethoxyyangonin Prevents Inflammation and Fulminant Hepatitis in Mice. PLoS ONE 8(10): e77626. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0077626

References

{{Dopaminergics Monoamine oxidase inhibitors Kavalactones Alkene derivatives Ethers Nootropics

Pharmacology

See also

References