Session: Advances in Separations:

This study exhibits the analysis of kava (Piper methysticum) using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and ultraviolet high-performance liquid chromatography (UHPLC).

Native to the South Pacific islands, kava has been used for ceremonial and recreational purposes for a long time. In recent years, kava drinks have become extremely popular for their relaxing effects without being sedative or causing an individual to lose consciousness. Drinks infused with kava-root powder are known to have various therapeutic and medicinally important characteristics (e.g., antidepressant, anti-oxidative, antifungal, anti-inflammatory, muscle relaxant). Recently, however, there have also been cases reported concerning long-term ingestion of kava associated with liver damage. As a result, many countries have banned kava consumption. This information has led to a further determination that this root powder contains both health benefits for and harmful effects on humans. The goal of this study is to identify chemical compounds present in kava root powder that are responsible for both therapeutic and harmful effects on humans.

For this purpose, to qualitatively identify different compounds present in the root powder, GC-MS and UHPLC were used. Using GC-MS, various compounds were identified, including but not limited to α-caryophyllene, β-caryophyllene, caryophyllene oxide, kavain, and yangonin. In particular, kavain and yangonin were identified as two of the main constituents of kava, also known as kavalactones. Later, the same sample was analyzed on UHPLC to identify other compounds that were not initially identified on GC-MS due to heat-induced injection that causes thermal degradation of many compounds present in the sample. Because UHPLC does not contain a heat-induced injection port, it can detect non-volatile, thermally unstable, and polar compounds that were not previously recognized on GC-MS.

Conducting a quantitative analysis of these compounds using UHPLC will help determine, by weight, the concentration of identified compounds with health benefits and risks for consumers daily.

Dil Ramanathan

Appearances