Dihydromethysticin (di-hydro-meth-this-ta-sin)
Dihydromethysticin, also known as DHM and the number 5 on the chemotype list will be today’s topic. DHM is similar to DHK in that it can induce CYP1A1 pathways which have been thought to play a part in carcinogenesis (cancer forming process) [1]. On the flip side, it also has been found to have cancer preventative effects by blocking induction of lung tumors and DNA damage in mice [2]. Dihydromethysticin has shown to have some pain-relieving properties. The analgesic effectiveness of dihydrokavain and dihydromethysticin at 120 mg/kg body wt. was reported to be equivalent to that of aspirin at 200 mg/kg body wt [3]. It also has shown some ability to block poisoning as methysticin and dihydromethysticin were particularly effective in affording protection against the lethal effects of strychnine [4]. DHM is typically thought of as a nauseating kavalactone. Kavas with high levels of this kavalactone are known for strong psychotropic effects, and they usually cause side effects such as nausea due to high amounts [5]. Kavas with a 5 at the beginning of the chemotype are generally of the non-noble, or non-beverage grade variety, being overly sedative and long lasting. Kavas with the least amount of this kavalactone are generally favored over ones with higher amounts.
[1] Yan Li, Hu Mei, Qiangen Wu, Suhui Zhang, Jia-Long Fang, Leming Shi, Lei Guo, Methysticin and 7,8-Dihydromethysticin are Two Major Kavalactones in Kava Extract to Induce CYP1A1, Toxicological Sciences, Volume 124, Issue 2, December 2011, Pages 388–399, https://doi.org/10.1093/toxsci/kfr235
[2] Narayanapillai SC, Balbo S, Leitzman P, Grill AE, Upadhyaya P, Shaik AA, Zhou B, O'Sullivan MG, Peterson LA, Lu J, Hecht SS, Xing C. Dihydromethysticin from kava blocks tobacco carcinogen 4-(methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone-induced lung tumorigenesis and differentially reduces DNA damage in A/J mice. Carcinogenesis. 2014 Oct;35(10):2365-72. doi: 10.1093/carcin/bgu149. Epub 2014 Jul 22. PMID: 25053626; PMCID: PMC4178470.
[3] Wu D, Yu L, Nair MG, DeWitt DL, Ramsewak RS. Cyclooxygenase enzyme inhibitory compounds with antioxidant activities from Piper methysticum (kava kava) roots. Phytomedicine. 2002 Jan;9(1):41-7. doi: 10.1078/0944-7113-00068. PMID: 11924763.
[4] Mark Blumenthal, Yadhu N, Sing. Pharmacology of Kava and its Constituents. HerbalGram. 1997; No. 39:50 (http://cms.herbalgram.org/herbalgram/issue39/article496.html)
[5] Lebot, V., Merlin, M., Lindstrom, L., 1997. Kava, The Pacific Elixir. Yale University Press, New Haven.
Dihydromethysticin, also known as DHM and the number 5 on the chemotype list will be today’s topic. DHM is similar to DHK in that it can induce CYP1A1 pathways which have been thought to play a part in carcinogenesis (cancer forming process) [1]. On the flip side, it also has been found to have cancer preventative effects by blocking induction of lung tumors and DNA damage in mice [2]. Dihydromethysticin has shown to have some pain-relieving properties. The analgesic effectiveness of dihydrokavain and dihydromethysticin at 120 mg/kg body wt. was reported to be equivalent to that of aspirin at 200 mg/kg body wt [3]. It also has shown some ability to block poisoning as methysticin and dihydromethysticin were particularly effective in affording protection against the lethal effects of strychnine [4]. DHM is typically thought of as a nauseating kavalactone. Kavas with high levels of this kavalactone are known for strong psychotropic effects, and they usually cause side effects such as nausea due to high amounts [5]. Kavas with a 5 at the beginning of the chemotype are generally of the non-noble, or non-beverage grade variety, being overly sedative and long lasting. Kavas with the least amount of this kavalactone are generally favored over ones with higher amounts.
[1] Yan Li, Hu Mei, Qiangen Wu, Suhui Zhang, Jia-Long Fang, Leming Shi, Lei Guo, Methysticin and 7,8-Dihydromethysticin are Two Major Kavalactones in Kava Extract to Induce CYP1A1, Toxicological Sciences, Volume 124, Issue 2, December 2011, Pages 388–399, https://doi.org/10.1093/toxsci/kfr235
[2] Narayanapillai SC, Balbo S, Leitzman P, Grill AE, Upadhyaya P, Shaik AA, Zhou B, O'Sullivan MG, Peterson LA, Lu J, Hecht SS, Xing C. Dihydromethysticin from kava blocks tobacco carcinogen 4-(methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone-induced lung tumorigenesis and differentially reduces DNA damage in A/J mice. Carcinogenesis. 2014 Oct;35(10):2365-72. doi: 10.1093/carcin/bgu149. Epub 2014 Jul 22. PMID: 25053626; PMCID: PMC4178470.
[3] Wu D, Yu L, Nair MG, DeWitt DL, Ramsewak RS. Cyclooxygenase enzyme inhibitory compounds with antioxidant activities from Piper methysticum (kava kava) roots. Phytomedicine. 2002 Jan;9(1):41-7. doi: 10.1078/0944-7113-00068. PMID: 11924763.
[4] Mark Blumenthal, Yadhu N, Sing. Pharmacology of Kava and its Constituents. HerbalGram. 1997; No. 39:50 (http://cms.herbalgram.org/herbalgram/issue39/article496.html)
[5] Lebot, V., Merlin, M., Lindstrom, L., 1997. Kava, The Pacific Elixir. Yale University Press, New Haven.