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
Macroscopic: Pale yellow brown powder with a slight, agreeable odor and a bitter, pungent…