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Science & Pharmacology

Alkaloid profiles, receptor pharmacology, metabolism, and dose-response. Written for researchers, clinicians, and others who need depth rather than everyday guidance.

Scope

Kratom (Mitragyna speciosa) contains more than 40 identified alkaloids, of which mitragynine (the dominant indole alkaloid) and 7-hydroxymitragynine (the potent minor alkaloid) account for the majority of documented pharmacological activity. The plant's activity at opioid, adrenergic, serotonergic, and dopaminergic systems has been the subject of increasing research attention since approximately 2014.

This section summarises the current literature on kratom pharmacology. It is maintained by the kratom.com editorial team and is not peer-reviewed; primary sources are cited throughout, and the full literature library is available under Scientific Literature.

Where this summary differs from consumer-facing Learn content, the difference is depth — not position. The company's regulatory position (plant-derived material only; no isolated or synthetic 7-OH) is documented under Position Statements.

Topic briefs

Pharmacology·

Mitragynine: receptor binding, metabolism, and dose-response

Kratom.com Editorial · Independent Literature Review

Reviewed against publications from Kruegel et al., Hemby et al., Obeng et al., and Wilson et al.

A summary of the current literature on mitragynine — the dominant alkaloid in Mitragyna speciosa at approximately 1–2% of dry leaf weight — including partial μ-opioid receptor agonism, α2-adrenergic interaction, CYP2D6 metabolism pathways, and measured plasma-level trajectories across oral doses from 1 g to 8 g.

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Alkaloids·

7-Hydroxymitragynine: minority alkaloid with outsized effects

Kratom.com Editorial

Review of peer-reviewed pharmacology and natural-material composition studies, 2018–2024

7-OH is present at roughly 0.01–0.04% of dry leaf weight but is ~13× more potent than mitragynine at the μ-opioid receptor. This review summarises natural-material concentrations vs. concentrated and synthetic 7-OH products, metabolic conversion from mitragynine, and the regulatory distinction kratom.com draws between whole-leaf and isolated-alkaloid products.

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Analytical·

Alkaloid profile variation across vein colour, region, and maturity

Comparative review of regional Mitragyna speciosa specimens

How mitragynine, 7-OH, speciogynine, mitraphylline, and the ~40 other measured alkaloids shift across harvest age, cultivar, and growing region. Discusses analytical methods (HPLC, UPLC-MS/MS) and the variability that makes strain labelling a directional guide rather than a guarantee.

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Clinical·

Extended use and tolerance in kratom: the research summary

Review of clinical and observational research, 2016–2024

Summary of human and animal studies on tolerance development and long-term use patterns. Includes Henningfield scheduling analyses, Garcia-Romeu observational data, and the clinical distinction between whole-leaf use and concentrated-alkaloid product profiles.

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