Kava
Piper methysticum
Pacific noble-varietal root and peeled stump. Kavalactone-standardised extracts with chemotype documentation. Tudei varieties excluded.
STANDARD
ONLY
US STD
LIFE
Botanical reference
Piper methysticum.
- Family
- Piperaceae
- Plant part
- Root · peeled stump
- Origin
- Vanuatu · Fiji
Overview
Kava (Piper methysticum G. Forst.) is a Pacific-island shrub cultivated for its kavalactone-rich rootstock. Motark sources Kava exclusively from noble cultivars in Vanuatu and Fiji, through long-term grower and cooperative relationships. Tudei varieties are excluded across the supply chain.
Extraction is performed in GMP-aligned facilities through water, hydroalcoholic, and supercritical CO₂ processes, with kavalactone content and chemotype profile characterised by HPLC against reference standards. Standard release specifications range from 30% to 70% w/w total kavalactones, with full chemotype documentation per batch.
Traditional use
Kava root has a continuous documented history of ceremonial and social use across Polynesia, Melanesia, and Micronesia, where it is prepared as a cold-water suspension of the macerated rootstock. Pacific-island authorities and ISO 17025 chemotype standards distinguish noble cultivars — the only material accepted into the Motark supply chain — from tudei varieties.
Motark's compound monograph documents the traditional context as cultural background only. No therapeutic claims are made and no dosage guidance is provided through this site — these are matters for licensed practitioners and the regulatory frameworks of the markets in which finished products are sold.
Modern research
The principal characterised constituents of Piper methysticum are the kavalactones — a class of six major arylethylene-α-pyrones (kavain, methysticin, yangonin, demethoxyyangonin, dihydrokavain, and dihydromethysticin) — together with minor flavokavins. The relative proportions of these six lactones define the chemotype, which Motark documents per batch.
Published peer-reviewed work spans phytochemistry, chemotype characterisation, analytical method development, and pharmacokinetics. Citations available on request from the team.
Specifications
Release spec.
Standard commercial specification below. Higher-spec tiers and custom standardisations available against the formulation brief.
- Botanical name
- Piper methysticum G. Forst.
- Family
- Piperaceae
- Plant part
- Root and peeled stump (noble varietal)
- Extraction solvent
- Water / hydroalcoholic (30% EtOH) / supercritical CO₂
- Extraction ratio (DER)
- 5:1 standard; 10:1 on request
- Standardisation marker
- Total kavalactones (HPLC, chemotype-specific)
- Specification
- 30 – 70% w/w total kavalactones; chemotype documented
- Appearance
- Light brown powder; oleoresin paste for supercritical CO₂ extracts
- Particle size
- 80 mesh (US standard)
- Loss on drying
- ≤ 5.0%
- Heavy metals
- Pb < 0.5 ppm · As < 1.0 ppm · Cd < 0.3 ppm · Hg < 0.1 ppm
- Microbial
- TPC < 1,000 CFU/g · Y&M < 100 CFU/g · E. coli absent in 1 g
- Pesticide residues
- Compliant with USP <565>, EU MRLs
Markers and supply
Active markers and packaging.
Active markers
Total kavalactones
30 – 70% w/w
Method: HPLC, chemotype-specific
Kavain · methysticin · yangonin
Individual profile per batch
Method: HPLC
Flavokavins
Characterised per batch
Method: HPLC
Packaging
- Bulk powder
- 1 kg · 5 kg · 25 kg fibre drums (food-grade liner, vacuum-sealed)
- Oleoresin paste (CO₂)
- 1 kg · 5 kg · 20 kg HDPE drums (food-grade, nitrogen-flushed)
- Custom packaging
- Available on request for OEM partners
Storage
Store in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight. Keep container tightly closed and protected from moisture.
Shelf life: 24 months from date of manufacture when stored sealed under specified conditions
KavainStructure & references
Kavain.
Kavain shown as a representative of the kavalactones class — the release marker is the class total, not a single molecule.
The release marker for Kava is Kavalactones, quantified by hplc, chemotype-specific against a reference standard at a specification of 30–70%.
PubChem record
CID 5281565Structural data, IUPAC name, SMILES, and physicochemical properties mirrored from the canonical record at the US National Library of Medicine.
Regulatory status
Status by market.
Regulatory framework summary for the markets covered as standard. Additional jurisdictions and custom dossier work routed through the regulatory team.
Applications
Common uses.
- Capsule and tablet supplements for relaxation, sleep, and stress (where permitted)
- Traditional kava beverage preparations — root powder, instant drink mixes
- Tincture and liquid extract formulations
- Custom-spec extract supply for OEM and contract manufacturers (varietal-verified noble Kava)
- Reference material for chemotype characterisation
Documentation pack
Standard deliverables.
- Certificate of Analysis (COA) — per batch, retained 7 yearsPer batch
- Specification sheetPer batch
- Heavy metals reportPer batch
- Pesticide residue reportPer batch
- Microbial testing reportPer batch
- Stability dataPer batch
- Country of origin certificatePer batch
- Material Safety Data SheetPer batch
For procurement and formulation
Sample, quote, or full dossier.
Request a representative sample with the standard intake pack, pricing for your specified spec tier and annual volume, or the full regulatory dossier on request from the team.
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