312 
PACIFIC SCIENCE, Vol. XXII, July 1968 
added that we expect newly introduced thera- 
peutics to be in some way superior to those which 
are already in therapeutic use. It appears then 
that such superiority has not been demonstrated 
for the kawa lactones.* 
The further question arises: What is the 
intrinsic value of such a detailed investigation 
of the phytochemistry and pharmacology of a 
single plant? I shall not retreat by responding 
that every scientific investigation, regardless of 
the subject or the goal, carries with it its own 
justification. I should like to express the view 
that there is scientific justification in learning 
the chemical composition and the effects of an 
exotic plant which has played such an important 
role in the lives of the peoples of Oceania for 
thousands of years. To this may be added that 
natural products have always been models and 
examples for new medicinal agents in bio- 
chemical research. Even if this is not the case, 
as has been pointed out, for the sedative-hypno- 
tic effect, it may perhaps be true for the other 
effects of kawa. Perhaps the kawa pyrones 
will stimulate chemists studying synthetic 
medicinal products to new research in the fields 
of epileptic agents, endoanesthetics, or oral 
antimycotics. 
I should like to thank the Chemistry Depart- 
ment of the University of Hawaii for the op- 
portunity to work in the chemistry laboratory 
during 1961 and Professor Paul J. Scheuer for 
his assistance with the preparation of the En- 
glish manuscript. 
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