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  • Title: Anxiolytic effects of kava extract and kavalactones in the chick social separation-stress paradigm.
    Author: Smith KK, Dharmaratne HR, Feltenstein MW, Broom SL, Roach JT, Nanayakkara NP, Khan IA, Sufka KJ.
    Journal: Psychopharmacology (Berl); 2001 Apr; 155(1):86-90. PubMed ID: 11374340.
    Abstract:
    RATIONALE: Piper methysticum extract (kava kava) possesses numerous therapeutic properties, but it is unknown which of its principle constituents (kavalactones) subserve such effects. OBJECTIVES: This experiment sought to characterize the putative anxiolytic properties of P. methysticum extract and its six principle kavalactones in the chick social separation-stress paradigm. METHODS: Eight-day-old chicks received intraperitoneal injections of either vehicle, chlordiazepoxide (5.0 mg/ml per kg), P. methysticum extract (containing 30% kavalactones), kavain, dihydrokavain, methysticin, dihydromethysticin, yangonin, or desmethoxyyangonin (30 mg/ml per kg for kava compounds) 30 min prior to being tested in the presence of two conspecifics or in isolation for a 3-min observation period. Latency to adopt a ventral recumbent posture to index sedation, number of vocalizations to index separation distress, and a composite pain score (in response to 50 microliters 0.10% formalin injection into the plantar surface of the foot) to index stress-induced analgesia served as dependent measures. RESULTS: Both chlordiazepoxide and P. methysticum extract attenuated separation-induced distress vocalizations and stress-induced analgesia. Dihydrokavain attenuated separation-induced distress vocalizations. CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that the anxiolytic effects of P. methysticum extract may be mediated, in part, by dihydrokavain.
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