Natrol Wins Patent for Plant-Based Relaxant

Natrol Inc., a Chatsworth maker of nutritional dietary supplements, has been awarded a U.S. patent for Kavatrol, a dietary supplement that serves as a general relaxant.

Kavatrol is a combination of the root of the kava plant (found in the South Pacific), chamomile, hops and schizandra herbs.

Natrol, founded in 1980 as a cosmetics firm, offers 145 nutritional supplements. It posted sales of $42.9 million in 1997. Last month, Natrol went public with a $59.1 million IPO that netted $44.64 million for the company.