Dihydromethysticin is a kavalactone originally isolated from P. methysticum (kava-kava) that has diverse biological activities, including efflux transporter inhibitory, antinociceptive, and neuroprotective properties. Dihydromethysticin is a P-glycoprotein (P-gp) inhibitor that increases uptake of the P-gp substrate calcein AM by 50% in P388 mouse leukemia cancer cells overexpressing P-gp when used at a concentration of 54.6 μM. Dihydromethysticin (275 mg/kg) has analgesic activity, increasing the latency to tail withdrawal in the tail-flick assay in mice. It also decreases the infarct size in a mouse model of ischemia induced by microbipolar coagulation of the left middle cerebral artery (MCA) when administered at a dose of 10 mg/kg.
(6S)-6-[2-(1,3-Benzodioxol-5-yl)ethyl]-5,6-dihydro-4-methoxy-2H-pyran-2-one, is used in toxicity studies through in vitro analysis. This complex is found in the roots of kava plant.
ChEBI: Dihydromethysticin is a member of 2-pyranones and an aromatic ether.
