Kava derived therapeutic compounds and methods of use thereof

Abstract

Certain embodiments of the invention provide a composition comprising at least two compounds selected from the group consisting of dihydromethysticin, methysticin, dihydrokavain, kavain, desmethoxyyangonin and 11-methoxyyangonin, wherein the composition is substantially free of flavokawain B. Certain embodiments of the invention also provide a method for treating or preventing cancer in a mammal (e.g., a human) in need of such treatment comprising, administering to the mammal a carrier and a compound selected from the group consisting of dihydromethysticin, methysticin, dihydrokavain, kavain, desmethoxyyangonin and 11-methoxyyangonin, wherein the compound is substantially free of other kava extract components.

1 - 98 . (canceled) 
     
     
         99 . A method, comprising: separating a kava extract to provide a composition that comprises: methysticin, dihydromethysticin, kavain, or dihydrokavain; that comprises less than 0.3% by weight of flavokawain B; and that comprises less than 0.3% by weight of flavokawain A. 
     
     
         100 . The method of  claim 99 , wherein the composition comprises, about 6±5% methysticin, about 15±5% weight percent dihydromethysticin, about 29±5% weight percent kavain, and about 30±5% weight percent dihydrokavain. 
     
     
         101 . The method of  claim 99 , wherein the composition comprises 11-methoxyyangonin, flavanone: 
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
       
       and
 dihydromethysticin, wherein the composition comprises less than 0.3% by weight of a bornyl ester of cinnamic acid of the formula: 
 
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
         comprises less than 0.3% by weight of flavokawain B; and comprises less than 0.3% by weight of flavokawain A. 
       
     
     
         102 . The method of  claim 101 , wherein the composition is substantially free of pinostrobin, bornyl ester of 3,4-methylenedioxy cinnamic acid: 
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
       
       and/or
 flavanone: 
 
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
       
     
     
         103 . The method of  claim 99 , wherein the composition consists essentially of dihydromethysticin, 11-methoxyyangonin, desmethoxyyangonin, dihydrokavain, kavain, methysticin and flavanone: 
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
       
     
     
         104 . The method of  claim 99 , wherein the kava extract comprises ethanol. 
     
     
         105 . The method of  claim 99 , comprising:
 a) combining an ethanolic kava extract and silica gel to provide a mixture;   b) evaporating the mixture to provide a silica gel having kava residue adsorbed thereon;   c) loading the silica gel having kava residue adsorbed thereon on a chromatography column to provide a kava-adsorbed silica gel column; and   d) eluting the kava-adsorbed silica gel column with a solvent system to provide the composition.   
     
     
         106 . The method of  claim 99 , further comprising formulating the composition into a tablet, a capsule, a drink, or a wafer. 
     
     
         107 . The method of  claim 101 , further comprising formulating the composition into a tablet, a capsule, a drink, or a wafer. 
     
     
         108 . The method of  claim 99 , further comprising preparing a unit dosage form from the composition. 
     
     
         109 . A method comprising preparing a unit dosage form that comprises methysticin, dihydromethysticin, kavain, or dihydrokavain; that comprises less than 0.3% by weight of flavokawain B; and that comprises less than 0.3% by weight of flavokawain A. 
     
     
         110 . The method of  claim 109 , wherein the unit dosage form comprises, about 6±5% methysticin, about 15±5% weight percent dihydromethysticin, about 29±5% weight percent kavain, and about 30±5% weight percent dihydrokavain. 
     
     
         111 . The method of  claim 109 , wherein the unit dose form comprises 11-methoxyyangonin, flavanone: 
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
       
       and
 dihydromethysticin, wherein the composition comprises less than 0.3% by weight of a bornyl ester of cinnamic acid of the formula: 
 
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
         comprises less than 0.3% by weight of flavokawain B; and comprises less than 0.3% by weight of flavokawain A. 
       
     
     
         112 . A unit dosage form that comprises methysticin, dihydromethysticin, kavain, or dihydrokavain; that comprises less than 0.3% by weight of flavokawain B; and that comprises less than 0.3% by weight of flavokawain A. 
     
     
         113 . The unit dosage form of  claim 112 , that comprises, about 6±5% methysticin, about 15±5% weight percent dihydromethysticin, about 29±5% weight percent kavain, and about 30±5% weight percent dihydrokavain. 
     
     
         114 . The unit dosage form of  claim 112 , that comprises:
 11-methoxyyangonin, flavanone:   
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
       
       and
 dihydromethysticin, wherein the composition comprises less than 0.3% by weight of a bornyl ester of cinnamic acid of the formula: 
 
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
         comprises less than 0.3% by weight of flavokawain B; and comprises less than 0.3% by weight of flavokawain A. 
       
     
     
         115 . A method comprising, administering a unit dosage form as described in  claim 112  to a human to treat cancer, prevent cancer, prevent tumorigenesis, reduce DNA damage, reduce protein damage, detoxify physical carcinogens, or detoxify chemical carcinogens. 
     
     
         116 . The method of  claim 115 , wherein the human is a smoker. 
     
     
         117 . A method comprising, administering a unit dosage form as described in  claim 112  to a human to treat anxiety. 
     
     
         118 . A method comprising, administering a unit dosage form as described in  claim 114  to a human to treat anxiety.