Flavokavain A

Flavokavain A is a flavokavain found in the kava plant.^[1]

Flavokavain A

Names
Preferred IUPAC name 2′-Hydroxy-4,4′,6′-trimethoxychalcone
Other names Flavokawain A
Identifiers
CAS Number	37951-13-6 Y
3D model (JSmol)	Interactive image
Beilstein Reference	2224776
ChEBI	CHEBI:157725
ChEMBL	ChEMBL243829
ChemSpider	4511445
EC Number	636-475-1
PubChem CID	5355469
UNII	8OM2XZ2ZM3 Y
CompTox Dashboard (EPA)	DTXSID601317535
InChI InChI=1S/C18H18O5/c1-21-13-7-4-12(5-8-13)6-9-15(19)18-16(20)10-14(22-2)11-17(18)23-3/h4-11,20H,1-3H3/b9-6+ Key: CGIBCVBDFUTMPT-RMKNXTFCSA-N
SMILES O=C(C2=C(O)C=C(OC)C=C2OC)/C=C/C1=CC=C(OC)C=C1
Properties
Chemical formula	C18H18O5
Molar mass	314.337 g·mol−1
Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa). Y verify (what is YN ?) Infobox references

A systematic review of studies on kava found evidence that its bioactive compounds, particularly flavokavain A and B, exert antiproliferative and pro-apoptotic effects across multiple cancer models, highlighting its potential chemotherapeutic use especially for epithelial cancers, though research on oral squamous cell carcinoma remains scarce.^[2] It shows strong anticancer effects—particularly against bladder cancer—by inducing apoptosis through Bax-dependent pathways and inhibiting key anti-apoptotic proteins, with promising results in both cell cultures and animal models.^[3]

Kava alone is not hepatotoxic in mice, but its chalcone compounds flavokavains A and B significantly increase acetaminophen-induced liver toxicity, suggesting that herb-drug interactions may explain rare severe liver damage seen with kava use in humans.^[4]

See also

• Kavalactone