You heard that correctly, kava lovers. Researchers have discovered that the Onion (Allium cepa L) (“Allium Cepa” n.d.) is an excellent test host for predicting and monitoring mutagenic and/or protective effects of other compounds (Bagatini et al. 2009). This type of test is currently in use and has been used to test the mutagenicity of many products such as polystyrene (Maity et al. 2020) and pesticides ((Dizdari) and Kopliku 2013).
In regards to kava, today’s study takes a look at the ability for kavain to either protect or damage DNA based on its effects at various concentrations, along with its effects when paired with a DNA-damaging agent Methyl Methanesulfonate, known as MMS. MMS is an agent which inhibits DNA synthesis in cells (Norman, Joe, and Busbee 1986). In this case it was used to induce DNA damage in the onion.
As per tradition, we’ll first remark on the concentration amounts used in this study. They used 32, 64, and 128µg/ml as concentration amounts. These are levels we wouldn’t see, even at the lowest studied levels in standard kava consumption. Systemic circulation for kavalactones will normally amount to nanograms with highest recorded amounts being 17.4µg/ml (Tarbah, Barguil, et al. 2003), and another at ~6.29µg/ml (Ketola et al. 2015), but only in some special cases. 800 mg of kavain was given to human volunteers which, at the high end, serum concentrations came up to ~480ng/ml for kavain and its metabolites after consumption and distribution (Tarbah, Mahler, et al. 2003). Usually we say that these studies have no reflection on real-world consumption, however in this instance we can say that these larger amounts can at least show us an upper limit of safety.
The researchers found that no concentration of kavain studied here was enough to cause cytotoxicity and no instances of mutagenicity of DNA were observed. In addition, the researchers found kavain to be “antimutagenic”. In short, they found that kavain can reduce the damage inflicted by mutagenic compounds such as MMS. Further research is obviously required, but this study demonstrated kavain’s lack of toxicity, and important chemopreventive activity in the presence of MMS (Vale Junior et al. 2022).
To sum all of this up; accepted and reproducible research regarding onions can tie toxicity and mutagenicity to compounds that mirror similar situations in the human body. Researchers used these methods to assay the toxicity of kavain, and found kavain had no toxicity, and no ability to alter DNA even at the highest doses tested. Kavain does NOT interfere with the progression of the cell cycle.
Substack Link: https://kavafacts.substack.com/p/kavains-toxicity-and-mutagenicity
“Allium Cepa.” n.d. Accessed June 20, 2022. https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/allium-cepa/.
Bagatini, M. D., T. G. Vasconcelos, H. D. Laughinghouse 4th, A. F. Martins, and S. B. Tedesco. 2009. “Biomonitoring Hospital Effluents by the Allium Cepa L. Test.” Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology 82 (5): 590–92. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00128-009-9666-z.
(Dizdari), Anila Mesi, and Ditika Kopliku. 2013. “Cytotoxic and Genotoxic Potency Screening of Two Pesticides on Allium Cepa L.” Procedia Technology 8 (January): 19–26. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.protcy.2013.11.005.
Ketola, Raimo A., Jenni Viinamäki, Ilpo Rasanen, Anna Pelander, and Sirkka Goebeler. 2015. “Fatal Kavalactone Intoxication by Suicidal Intravenous Injection.” Forensic Science International 249 (April): e7–11. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.forsciint.2015.01.032.
Maity, Sukhendu, Ankit Chatterjee, Rajkumar Guchhait, Sukanta De, and Kousik Pramanick. 2020. “Cytogenotoxic Potential of a Hazardous Material, Polystyrene Microparticles on Allium Cepa L.” Journal of Hazardous Materials 385 (March): 121560. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhazmat.2019.121560.
Norman, J. O., C. O. Joe, and D. L. Busbee. 1986. “Inhibition of DNA Polymerase Activity by Methyl Methanesulfonate.” Mutation Research 165 (2): 71–79. https://doi.org/10.1016/0167-8817(86)90062-3.
Tarbah, F., Y. Barguil, W. Weinmann, C. Mueller, D. Duhet, P. Cabalion, B. Kardel, and T. Daldrup. 2003. “Death after Consumption of Kava Beverage in Combination with Alcohol and Cannabis.” In GTFCh (Society of Toxicological and Forensic Chemistry) Symposium.
Tarbah, F., H. Mahler, B. Kardel, W. Weinmann, D. Hafner, and Th Daldrup. 2003. “Kinetics of Kavain and Its Metabolites after Oral Application.” Journal of Chromatography B 789 (1): 115–30. https://doi.org/10.1016/S1570-0232(03)00046-1.
Vale Junior, Erasmo P. D. O., Marcos Vitor R. Ferreira, Bianca Cristina S. Fernandes, Thais T. D. A. Silva, Francielle Alline Martins, and Pedro Marcos D. E. Almeida. 2022. “Protective Effect of Kavain in Meristematic Cells of Allium Cepa L (Onion).” Anais Da Academia Brasileira de Ciencias 94 (2): e20200520. https://doi.org/10.1590/0001-3765202220200520.
In regards to kava, today’s study takes a look at the ability for kavain to either protect or damage DNA based on its effects at various concentrations, along with its effects when paired with a DNA-damaging agent Methyl Methanesulfonate, known as MMS. MMS is an agent which inhibits DNA synthesis in cells (Norman, Joe, and Busbee 1986). In this case it was used to induce DNA damage in the onion.
As per tradition, we’ll first remark on the concentration amounts used in this study. They used 32, 64, and 128µg/ml as concentration amounts. These are levels we wouldn’t see, even at the lowest studied levels in standard kava consumption. Systemic circulation for kavalactones will normally amount to nanograms with highest recorded amounts being 17.4µg/ml (Tarbah, Barguil, et al. 2003), and another at ~6.29µg/ml (Ketola et al. 2015), but only in some special cases. 800 mg of kavain was given to human volunteers which, at the high end, serum concentrations came up to ~480ng/ml for kavain and its metabolites after consumption and distribution (Tarbah, Mahler, et al. 2003). Usually we say that these studies have no reflection on real-world consumption, however in this instance we can say that these larger amounts can at least show us an upper limit of safety.
The researchers found that no concentration of kavain studied here was enough to cause cytotoxicity and no instances of mutagenicity of DNA were observed. In addition, the researchers found kavain to be “antimutagenic”. In short, they found that kavain can reduce the damage inflicted by mutagenic compounds such as MMS. Further research is obviously required, but this study demonstrated kavain’s lack of toxicity, and important chemopreventive activity in the presence of MMS (Vale Junior et al. 2022).
To sum all of this up; accepted and reproducible research regarding onions can tie toxicity and mutagenicity to compounds that mirror similar situations in the human body. Researchers used these methods to assay the toxicity of kavain, and found kavain had no toxicity, and no ability to alter DNA even at the highest doses tested. Kavain does NOT interfere with the progression of the cell cycle.
Substack Link: https://kavafacts.substack.com/p/kavains-toxicity-and-mutagenicity
“Allium Cepa.” n.d. Accessed June 20, 2022. https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/allium-cepa/.
Bagatini, M. D., T. G. Vasconcelos, H. D. Laughinghouse 4th, A. F. Martins, and S. B. Tedesco. 2009. “Biomonitoring Hospital Effluents by the Allium Cepa L. Test.” Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology 82 (5): 590–92. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00128-009-9666-z.
(Dizdari), Anila Mesi, and Ditika Kopliku. 2013. “Cytotoxic and Genotoxic Potency Screening of Two Pesticides on Allium Cepa L.” Procedia Technology 8 (January): 19–26. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.protcy.2013.11.005.
Ketola, Raimo A., Jenni Viinamäki, Ilpo Rasanen, Anna Pelander, and Sirkka Goebeler. 2015. “Fatal Kavalactone Intoxication by Suicidal Intravenous Injection.” Forensic Science International 249 (April): e7–11. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.forsciint.2015.01.032.
Maity, Sukhendu, Ankit Chatterjee, Rajkumar Guchhait, Sukanta De, and Kousik Pramanick. 2020. “Cytogenotoxic Potential of a Hazardous Material, Polystyrene Microparticles on Allium Cepa L.” Journal of Hazardous Materials 385 (March): 121560. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhazmat.2019.121560.
Norman, J. O., C. O. Joe, and D. L. Busbee. 1986. “Inhibition of DNA Polymerase Activity by Methyl Methanesulfonate.” Mutation Research 165 (2): 71–79. https://doi.org/10.1016/0167-8817(86)90062-3.
Tarbah, F., Y. Barguil, W. Weinmann, C. Mueller, D. Duhet, P. Cabalion, B. Kardel, and T. Daldrup. 2003. “Death after Consumption of Kava Beverage in Combination with Alcohol and Cannabis.” In GTFCh (Society of Toxicological and Forensic Chemistry) Symposium.
Tarbah, F., H. Mahler, B. Kardel, W. Weinmann, D. Hafner, and Th Daldrup. 2003. “Kinetics of Kavain and Its Metabolites after Oral Application.” Journal of Chromatography B 789 (1): 115–30. https://doi.org/10.1016/S1570-0232(03)00046-1.
Vale Junior, Erasmo P. D. O., Marcos Vitor R. Ferreira, Bianca Cristina S. Fernandes, Thais T. D. A. Silva, Francielle Alline Martins, and Pedro Marcos D. E. Almeida. 2022. “Protective Effect of Kavain in Meristematic Cells of Allium Cepa L (Onion).” Anais Da Academia Brasileira de Ciencias 94 (2): e20200520. https://doi.org/10.1590/0001-3765202220200520.
