Kava, the anxiolytic herb: back to basics to prevent liver injury?

Kava is a traditional beverage and has been introduced to the mainstream U.S. market mostly as an anti-anxiety treatment. Kava and its constituents may cause systemic effects with long-term use, but the risk of carcinogenicity remains unknown. Presently, NTP is conducting a toxicological evaluation of kava extract and the review focuses on recent findings on kava toxicity and the mechanisms of kava's hepatotoxicity.