| Abstract: | Supercritical fluid extraction of kava lactones from Piper methysticum Forst. herb is described here. The extraction was performed with supercritical carbon dioxide alone and supercritical carbon dioxide modified with 15% ethanol, and the extracts were analyzed by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. Seven lactones including: 7,8-dihydrokavain; kavain; 5,6-dehydrokavain; 5, 6, 7, 8-tetrahydroyangonin; dihydromethysticin; yangonin; and methysticin were the major constituents in the SFE extract. |
