A Behavioral Assay to Examine the Effects of Kavalactones on Caenorhabditis elegans Neuromuscular Excitability
Bwarenaba Kautu,
Jessie Chappel,
Kellie Steele,
Juliana Phillips,
M. Mengarelli
Affiliations
Bwarenaba Kautu
Biology Department, Greenville University , Greenville, IL, USAPresent address: Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
Jessie Chappel
Biology Department, Greenville University, Greenville, IL, USA
Kellie Steele
Biology Department, Greenville University, Greenville, IL, USA
Juliana Phillips
Biology Department, Greenville University, Greenville, IL, USA
M. Mengarelli
Biology Department, Greenville University, Greenville, IL, USAPresent address: A.T. Still University of Health Sciences, Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine, Kirksville, MO, USA
Kavalactones are a class of lactone compounds found in Kava, a traditional beverage from the South Pacific Islands that is derived from the root of Piper methysticum. When consumed, these compounds produce sedative and anxiolytic effects, suggesting their potent actions on the nervous system. Here, we provide a protocol to examine the effects of kavalactones on C. elegans neuromuscular excitability. Our methodology could provide insight into the neurophysiological actions of kavalactones.
