Kava from the Internet trade - food, Supplement, medicine or cancer risk? (Article)
[Kava aus dem Internethandel - Genussmittel, Nahrungsergänzung, Medizin oder Krebsrisiko?]
Chemisches und Veterinäruntersuchungsamt (CVUA) Karlsruhe, Weissenburger Strasse 3, 76187 Karlsruhe, Germany
Abstract
The inhabitants of
the South Pacific islands traditionally use the kava plant (Piper
methysticum) for producing a beverage with relaxing effects. Since the
1990s, Kava is also popular in the western countries and has been used in Europe
and America in tablet and capsule form to treat anxiety disorders. Kava
exhibits anxiolytic and sleep-enhancing effects in humans. Research in
experimental animals has proven
sedative, anticonvulsant and central muscle relaxant effects, which may
be caused by kavalactones as major constituents of kava. In 2002, kava
has lost its authorisation as a medicinal product because of
considerable side effects, particularly damage to the liver. Test
purchases and analyses show that medicinal products containing
pharmacologically active concentrations of kavalactones are still sold
over the internet to the German consumer as food supplements. The
natural origin is highlighted as an advantage over synthetic
tranquilizers. A high priority to control the internet market with kava
products may arise from its recent evaluation as "possibly carcinogenic
to humans" (Group 2B) by the WHO International Agency for Research on
Cancer (IARC). © 2013 Bundesamt für Verbraucherschutz und
Lebensmittelsicherheit (BVL).
Author keywords
Arzneimittel; Internethandel; Kava; Nahrungsergänzungsmittel; Piper methysticum
ISSN: 16615751Source Type: Journal
Original language: German, English
DOI: 10.1007/s00003-013-0849-5Document Type: Article
