Dihydromethysticin (DHM)

Dihydromethysticin is one of the six major kavalactones found in the kava plant. Dihydromethysticin has marked activity on the induction of CYP3A23, as does the related chemical desmethoxyyangonin. Both dihydromethysticin and methysticin induce the hepatic enzyme CYP1A1, which increases the amount of the very highly carcinogenic benzo[a]pyrene-7,8-dihydrodiol-9,10-epoxide in the body (via the metabolism of benzo[a]pyrene) and may be responsible for some of the toxic effects associated with kava consumption.
DHM is likely free of kava's hepatotoxic risk. These results demonstrate the outstanding efficacy and promising safety margin of DHM in preventing NNK-induced lung tumorigenesis in A/J mice, with a unique mechanism of action and high target specificity.