Quantitative elimination of flavokavines A and B from Kava Kava (Piper methysticum G. Forst) by isoelectric focused adsorptive bubble separation

Adsorptive bubble separation, though still rarely used, is a suitable method for enrichment of surface-active macromolecules such as enzymes and proteins. There is a lack of investigations with small molecules, which can also be separated from complex mixtures by this method. In this work, an aqueous extract of Kava Kava (Piper methysticum G. Forst) was used as a model system. Enrichment of undesirable Flavokavine A (7) and Flavokavine B (8) in the foam was influenced by the pH value, the amount of saponin as surface active substance, and the flow rate of the foam-forming gas. Efficiency was highest with diluted samples at pH 6.5. Under these conditions, transfer of Kavapyrone (1-6) to the foam was negligible.