Yangonin has been shown to bind selectively to the cannabinoid receptorCB1, with a binding affinity (Ki) of 0.72 μM, and demonstrates low affinity for the CB2 receptor (Ki > 10 μM). It acts as an agonist at the CB1 receptor. This affinity suggests that the endocannabinoid system may play a role in the complex psychopharmacological effects of traditional kava beverages and anxiolytic preparations derived from the kava plant.[2]
A 2024 study investigated the analgesic effects of two kavalactones—kavain and yangonin—derived from Piper methysticum. Researchers administered these compounds via intrathecal injection to male Sprague-Dawley rats and evaluated their impact on Nociception, inflammatory hyperalgesia, and neuropathic mechanical allodynia using the tail-flick test, plantar test, and von Frey test, respectively. Yangonin significantly reduced nociception and inflammatory pain, effects reversed by co-administration of a CB1 receptor antagonist, suggesting its action through the endocannabinoid system. In contrast, kavain showed no analgesic effects. The findings highlight yangonin as a potential CB1-mediated treatment for certain types of pain.[3]
Yangonin has been identified as the most potent monoamine oxidase (MAO) inhibitor among the major kavalactones in Piper methysticum (kava). In vitro studies show that yangonin inhibits MAO-A with an IC50 of 1.29 μM and MAO-B with an IC50 of 0.085 μM, indicating strong activity, particularly against MAO-B. These findings suggest that MAO inhibition by yangonin may contribute to the central nervous system effects of kava, such as its anxiolytic properties.[5]
Yangonin, the strongest COX-II inhibitor among the six main kavalactones from kava, also showed moderate free radical scavenging activity, though its antioxidant effect in lipid oxidation assays could not be assessed due to solubility issues.[6]
Toxicity
Yangonin displays marked in vitro toxicity on human hepatocytes with approximately 40% reduction in viability based on an ethidium bromide assay.[7] The predominant mode of cell death turned out to be apoptosis rather than necrosis. No significant changes were observed in glutathione levels.[7]
^Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Ligresti, A.; Villano, R.; Allarà, M.; Ujváry, I. N.; Di Marzo, V. (2012). "Kavalactones and the endocannabinoid system: The plant-derived yangonin is a novel CB1 receptor ligand". Pharmacological Research. 66 (2): 163–169. doi:10.1016/j.phrs.2012.04.003. PMID22525682.
^Chow, L.-H., Lin, P.-C., Chen, Y.-J., Chen, Y.-H., & Huang, E. Y.-K. (2024). Spinal analgesic effects of kavain and yangonin, two major kavalactones of Piper methysticum. Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 333, 118394. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jep.2024.118394
^Prinsloo, D., van Dyk, S., Petzer, A., & Petzer, J. P. (2019). Monoamine Oxidase Inhibition by Kavalactones from Kava (Piper methysticum). Planta Medica, 85(14/15), 1136–1142. doi:10.1055/a-1008-9491
^Wu, D.; Yu, L.; Nair, M. G.; De Witt, D. L.; Ramsewak, R. S. (2002). "Cyclooxygenase enzyme inhibitory compounds with antioxidant activities from Piper methysticum (kava kava) roots". Phytomedicine. 9 (1): 41–47. doi:[10.1078/0944-7113-00068](https://doi.org/10.1078/0944-7113-00068).
