What is "kavalactone"

n. (context organic compound English) Any of a class of lactone compounds found in the kava shrub.

Kavalactones are a class of lactone compounds found in the kava shrub. Kavalactones have a wide variety of effects including amnestic, analgesic, anticonvulsant, anxiolytic, nootropic, and sedative/ hypnotic activity caused by numerous interactions with the central nervous system via several mechanisms.