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Methysticin is one of the six major kavalactones found in the kava plant. Research suggests that methysticin and the related compound dihydromethysticin have CYP1A1 inducing effects which may be responsible for their toxicity.
Toxicity
Methysticin induces the function of the hepatic enzyme CYP1A1, an enzyme involved in the toxification of benzo[a]pyrene into (+)-benzo[a]pyrene-7,8-dihydrodiol-9,10-epoxide, one of the most highly carcinogenic substances known. This property is shared by the related compound dihdromethysticin, both of which occur in significant quantities in Piper methysticum.
References
Methysticin Wikipedia(Text) CC BY-SA