Extract of the Kava-Kava rhizome in comparison with diazepam and placebo

Author(s): Cnota, P.

Abstract: In a controlled, doubleblind, randomized, 3-times cross-over clinical study 12 healthy volunteers received single doses of either one tablet Antares 120 (extract of the kava-kava rhizome, standardized on 120 mg kavapyrones) or one tablet diazepam 10 mg or one tablet 4( placebo". All tests were done immediately before, 2 hours and 6 hours after application of the preparations. The wash-out period between cross-over was seven days. After application of Antares and diazepam the EEG showed an increase of the relative intensities of the slow waves and a decrease of the relative intensity of alpha-waves, which was recorded in the occipital area for both preparations, 'm the frontal area only for Antares.Maximum effects for diazepam were often recorded two hours after application, however the kava-kava preparation showed the most distinct effects after six hours. The benzodiazepine-specific increase of the beta-activity was not recorded for the kava-kava preparation. During the observation period the placebo group showed a time-dependent decrease of the relative intensity the zone of the slow delta- and theta-waves and an increase in the zone of the alphawaves. The marked beta-activity in the diazepam group is the result of frequent significant differences between the two test preparations.In psychophysiological tests the critical flicker frequency was more distinctly reduced by Antares and diazepam than by placebo. Opposite to these results the volunteers showed in the Pauli-test, the simple reaction time test and the complex multiple choice reaction time test with Antares already after 2 hours significantly better results. For diazepam and placebo an improvement of performance could not be proven statistically.

Keyword(s): Human psychopharmacology

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