The Active Compounds Behind Kava
If you’ve spent any time learning about kava, you’ve probably come across the word kavalactones.
Kavalactones are the primary active compounds found in the kava plant (Piper methysticum), and they’re largely responsible for the distinctive experience associated with drinking kava.
But what exactly are kavalactones? How do they interact with the brain and body? And why does the amount of kavalactones in a kava product matter?
Here’s a closer look at the science.
What Are Kavalactones?
Kavalactones are a family of naturally occurring compounds found primarily in the roots and rhizomes of the kava plant.
Kava itself is native to the South Pacific, where beverages made from the plant have been consumed for centuries as part of social, cultural, and ceremonial traditions. The National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH), part of the National Institutes of Health, notes kava's long history of use among Pacific Island communities.
Scientists have identified numerous compounds within kava, but six major kavalactones account for much of its characteristic chemical profile:
- Kavain
- Dihydrokavain
- Methysticin
- Dihydromethysticin
- Yangonin
- Desmethoxyyangonin
The concentration and ratio of these kavalactones can differ depending on the kava cultivar, plant material, growing conditions, and extraction or preparation method.
How Do Kavalactones Work?
Kavalactones don't appear to work through one single biological pathway.
Instead, research suggests that different kavalactones interact with several targets within the central nervous system.
One important area of research involves GABA, or gamma-aminobutyric acid. GABA is the brain's primary inhibitory neurotransmitter and helps regulate neuronal activity.
Laboratory research has found that kavain, one of kava's major kavalactones, can positively modulate certain GABA-A receptors. Researchers have also investigated kavalactones' interactions with voltage-gated sodium and calcium channels and several other signaling systems.
A study published in PLOS ONE examining kavain and GABA-A receptors can be found through the National Library of Medicine.
It's important to note that the pharmacology of kava is complex and is still being researched. Saying kavalactones simply "increase GABA" would be an oversimplification. Current research suggests their effects likely result from several mechanisms working together.
What Do Kavalactones Feel Like?
Because kavalactones are psychoactive compounds, consuming enough kava can create a noticeable subjective experience.
People commonly describe kava as producing feelings of relaxation and ease while remaining relatively clear-headed. The experience can vary significantly based on the individual, amount consumed, kavalactone concentration, and specific kava cultivar or extract.
This is also what makes kava particularly interesting within the alcohol-alternative category.
Many non-alcoholic beverages replicate the taste or ritual of drinking without including an ingredient intended to create a noticeable psychoactive experience. Kava naturally contains active compounds that interact with the central nervous system.
That doesn't mean kava affects the body in the same way as alcohol. Its pharmacology is different, and kava shouldn't be described as simply "alcohol without the alcohol."
Do Different Kavalactones Do Different Things?
Potentially.
The six major kavalactones have different chemical structures and appear to have somewhat different pharmacological properties.
For example, kavain is one of the most extensively studied kavalactones and has been investigated for its interactions with GABA-A receptors.
Yangonin, meanwhile, has demonstrated affinity for cannabinoid CB1 receptors in laboratory research.
Other kavalactones have been studied for their interactions with ion channels and additional neurological pathways.
However, researchers are still working to understand how individual kavalactones contribute to the overall experience of consuming whole kava. The effects of a complete kava extract can't necessarily be attributed to one isolated compound.
Think of kavalactones somewhat like the cannabinoids in cannabis: they're a family of related compounds rather than one single active ingredient.
What Does "30% Kavalactones" Mean?
This is where understanding kavalactones becomes especially useful when comparing kava products.
Some kava extracts are standardized, meaning manufacturers control or measure the concentration of kavalactones in the extract.
For example, Kava Haven uses noble kava extract standardized to 30% kavalactones.
Each 1.5 oz serving of Kava Haven contains:
500 mg noble kava extract × 30% kavalactones = 150 mg of kavalactones per serving.
Standardization makes the amount of active compounds more measurable and allows for greater consistency from serving to serving.
Traditional kava beverages can vary considerably in their kavalactone concentration depending on the amount of root used, cultivar, preparation technique, and serving size.
What Is Noble Kava?
Not all kava is identical.
There are many different cultivars of Piper methysticum. In traditional Pacific Island kava culture, an important distinction is often made between noble kava cultivars and other varieties.
Noble cultivars have historically been selected for traditional consumption and desirable effects.
Quality also extends beyond cultivar. The part of the plant used matters.
A World Health Organization review of kava safety recommended that medicinal kava preparations use the root or rhizome of Piper methysticum rather than aerial portions of the plant and emphasized the importance of cultivar selection, plant material, preparation methods, and quality control.
Are Kavalactones the Same as CBD or THC?
No.
Kavalactones are chemically and pharmacologically distinct from cannabinoids such as CBD and THC.
CBD and THC come from cannabis. Kavalactones come from Piper methysticum, a member of the pepper family.
There can be some overlap among the biological systems these compounds interact with—for example, research has found that yangonin can interact with CB1 receptors—but that doesn't make kavalactones cannabinoids.
Kava also doesn't contain THC and doesn't produce the same type of intoxication typically associated with THC-containing cannabis.
Are Kavalactones the Same as Kratom?
No. Kava and kratom are completely different plants with different active compounds and pharmacological profiles.
Kava's primary active compounds are kavalactones.
Kratom's primary alkaloids include mitragynine and 7-hydroxymitragynine, which interact with opioid receptors.
Kava is not kratom, and kavalactones are not opioid compounds.
Why Kavalactones Matter in Kava Haven
Kavalactones are one of the biggest reasons we chose kava as the foundation for Kava Haven.
We weren't interested in creating another non-alcoholic spirit that simply recreated the flavor of a cocktail. We wanted an alcohol alternative built around an ingredient with both a long history of social consumption and a genuinely interesting pharmacological profile.
Kava Haven uses noble kava root extract standardized to 30% kavalactones, delivering 150 mg of kavalactones in each 1.5 oz serving.
It's designed to be mixed just like a traditional spirit—whether that's in a mule, spritz, or your favorite cocktail—while offering something fundamentally different from alcohol, THC, CBD, or kratom.
The Bottom Line
Kavalactones are the naturally occurring active compounds that make kava, well, kava.
Rather than being one ingredient, they're a family of compounds—including kavain, dihydrokavain, methysticin, dihydromethysticin, yangonin, and desmethoxyyangonin—that interact with multiple systems within the central nervous system.
Scientists are continuing to investigate exactly how these compounds work individually and together. What we do know is that kavalactones are central to both the chemistry and distinctive experience of one of the South Pacific's most historically significant social beverages.
Sources & Further Reading
- National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health — Kava
- National Library of Medicine — Kavain and GABA-A Receptors
- World Health Organization — Assessment of the Risk of Hepatotoxicity With Kava Products
- NIH Office of Dietary Supplements — Kava
This article is for educational purposes only and is not intended as medical advice. Kava Haven is intended for adults 21+. Do not use if pregnant or breastfeeding. Consult your healthcare provider before using kava if you take medications or have a medical condition.
