Dihydromethysticin is one of the six major kavalactones found in the roots of kava plant. Dihydromethysticin was found to be very effective in producing analgesia in the tail immersion test. Dihydromethysticin kavalactone induces apoptosis in osteosarcoma cells through modulation of PI3K/Akt pathway, disruption of mitochondrial membrane potential and inducing cell cycle arrest. Dihydromethysticin was identified as a promising lung cancer chemopreventive agent. Low concentrations of the kavalactone (+)-dihydromethysticin enhanced the binding of ligands to the GABAA receptors on freeze-dried rat cortex preparations.