Brief Introduction Synonyms--- Kava, Awa, Ava, Yaqona, Sakau Kavain (Kawain) Chemical Name: 2R)-4-methoxy-2-[(E)-2-phenylethenyl]-2,3-dihydropyran-6-one Molecular Formula: C14H14O3 Mol. Wt.: 230.26 Molecular Structure: Kava Kaka, or Kava, (Piper methysticum) (Piper Latin for "pepper", methysticum Greek for "intoxicating") is an ancient crop of the South Pacific. The word kava is used to refer both to the plant and the beverage produced from its roots. Kava has been used by indigenous people as an intoxicating traditional beverage since ancient times. Various preparations of kava have been marketed since the 1980s, especially in Europe and North America to manage mild anxiety, tension, and restlessness. Some reports also indicate that kava preparations may have analgesic, spasmolytic, neuroprotective, and antimitotic activities. Its active ingredients are called kavalactones. To date, 18 kavalactones have been identified, among these, six major kavalactones constitute approximately 95% of the lipid extract derived from the dried roots and rhizomes; these are kavain, dihydrokavain, methysticin, dihydromethysticin, yangonin, and desmethoxyyangonin.