The main constituents of kava kava rhizome include
kavalactones (kavapyrones) kawain, dihydrokawain,
methysticin, and dihyrdromethysticin; the alkaloids
and amides 1-cinnamoylpyrrolidine, 1-(m-methoxycinnamoyl)-
pyrrolidine, and cepharadione A; chalcones,
flavonoids, steroids (sitosterol, stigmasterol, and stigmastanol);
esters (e.g., bornyl cinnamate); aliphatic alcohols;
and long chain fatty acids. Dried material should contain
at least 3.5% kavalactones and good-quality rhizomes up
to 8.3% kavalactones.