Dihydrokavain is one of the six major

kavalactone Kavalactones are a class of lactone compounds found in kava roots and Alpinia zerumbet (Shell ginger). Kavalactones are under research for potential to have various psychotropic effects, including anxiolytic and sedative/ hypnotic activities. En ...

s found in the kava plant. It appears to contribute significantly to the

anxiolytic An anxiolytic (; also antipanic or antianxiety agent) is a medication or other intervention that reduces anxiety. This effect is in contrast to anxiogenic agents which increase anxiety. Anxiolytic medications are used for the treatment of anxi ...

effects of kava, based on a study in chicks. Dihydrokavain bears some structural similarity to the

strobilurin Strobilurins are a group of natural products and their synthetic analogs. A number of strobilurins are used in agriculture as fungicides. They are part of the larger group of QIs (Quinone outside Inhibitors), which act to inhibit the respiratory c ...

s and has some fungicidal activity.

References

Kavalactones Anxiolytics GABAA receptor positive allosteric modulators Monoamine oxidase inhibitors {{anxiolytic-stub