What is "methysticin"

Methysticin \Me*thys"ti*cin\, n. (Chem.) A white, silky, crystalline substance extracted from the thick rootstock of a species of pepper ( Piper methysticum) of the South Sea Islands; -- called also kanakin.

n. (context organic compound English) A particular kavalactone.

Methysticin is one of the six major kavalactones found in the kava plant. Research suggests that methysticin and the related compound dihydromethysticin have CYP1A1 inducing effects which may be responsible for their toxicity.