Some of you may already know of Kratom, others might not have a clue about what it is. This post’s sole purpose is to inform and give you the facts and news about kratom. Kratom is formally known as Mitragyna Speciosa and exists natively in Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, and Papua New Guinea. It has been used for hundreds of years in its pure leaf form. This amazing leaf has been shown to help with pain relief, energy, and mood booster. All things considered, kratom has been shown to be beneficial to many different people in many different ways.
Kratom Alkaloids and what they do
Mitragynine:
- Indole alkaloid. Analgesic, antitussive, antidiarrheal, adrenergic, antimalarial, possible psychedelic (5-HT2A) antagonist. Mitragynine is the primary alkaloid in kratom it’s believed to be responsible for the majority of its effects. Roughly 66% of total alkaloid content is found in Kratom leaf.
- Indole alkaloid. Appears to be a smooth muscle relaxer, but there is limited research available and more needs to be done. 8.6% to 9% of total alkaloid contents in Kratom leaf. Second most abundant alkaloid.
Mitraphylline:
- Oxindole alkaloid. Vasodilator, antihypertensive, muscle relaxer, diuretic, antiamnesic, anti-leukemic, possible immunostimulant. <1% of total alkaloid contents in Kratom leaf.
Isomitraphylline:
- Immunostimulant, anti-leukemic. < 1% of total alkaloid content found in Kratom leaf.
Speciogynine:
- Diastereomer of mitragynine. Possible smooth muscle relaxer. 6.6% to 7% of total alkaloid contents of kratom leaf, representing the third most abundant alkaloid.
Akuammigine:
- An indole alkaloid associated with the seeds of Picralima nitida (akaumma). It is structurally similar to yohimbine and mitragynine. Like yohimbine, it is known to have antimalarial activity.
Rhynchophylline:
- vasodilator, antihypertensive, calcium channel blocker, antiaggregant, anti-inflammatory, antipyretic (fever-reducing), antiarrhythmic, and anthelmintic (treatment of parasitic worms). It is a also non-competitive NMDA antagonist and appears to also have effects on dopamine and 5-HT receptors. Chinese Cat’s claw (Uncaria tomentosa) has also been found to contain rhynchophylline. It has a similar chemical structure to mitragynine and represents < 1% of the total alkaloid content found in kratom leaf.
- Cerebrocirculant, antiaggregant, anti-adrenergic (at alpha-1), a sedative, anticonvulsant, smooth muscle relaxer. It’s structurally related to alkaloids from Yohimbe. Ajmalicine is an α1-adrenergic receptor antagonist with preferential actions over α2-adrenergic receptors, which is the reason for its hypotensive effects. According to ‘Alkaloids: Biochemistry, Ecology, and Medical Applications‘, ajmalicine “depletes peripheral noradrenaline stores, resulting in a decrease of peripheral resistance and blood pressure. It also causes depletion of catecholamine and serotonin stores in the brain, heart, and many other organs”. Ajmalicine is also found in Rauwolfia serpentina.
Isorhynchophylline:
- Immunostimulant, and possible antihypertensive and neuroprotective. < 1% of total alkaloid content found in Kratom leaf.
Ciliaphylline:
- Antitussive, analgesic. < 1% of total alkaloid content found in Kratom leaf.
Corynantheidine (rauhimbine):
- μ -opioid antagonist, also found in Yohimbe. It’s related to ajmalicine and is a diastereomer of yohimbine. Like ajmalicine, it is an α1-adrenergic and α2-adrenergic receptor antagonist with 10x greater affinity for the α1-adrenergic receptor. This is in contrast to yohimbine and its other diastereomer, rauwolscine, which has a 30x higher affinity for the α2-adrenergic receptor over the α1-adrenergic (opposite affinities). < 1% of total alkaloid content found in Kratom leaf.
- Calcium channel blocker. < 1% of total alkaloid content found in Kratom leaf.
Corynoxine A and B:
- Dopamine mediating anti-locomotives, meaning that they act as somewhat of a sedative. They are also found in Chinese Cat’s Claw (Uncaria tomentosa). There is also some research that suggests they may help with Parkinson’s. < 1% of total alkaloid content found in Kratom leaf.
- A flavonoid that’s an antioxidant, antiaggregant, antibacterial, antidiabetic, antihepatitic, anti-inflammatory, anti-leukemic, antimutagenic, antiperoxidant, antiviral, potential cancer preventative, alpha-amylase inhibitor. One preliminary study even claims that it may reduce myostatin, resulting in muscle growth and improved strength. It’s also found in dark chocolate, green tea, and grapes.
- Partial opioid agonist. One study found that “9-Hydroxycorynantheidine inhibited electrically stimulated guinea-pig ileum contraction, but its maximum inhibition was weaker than that of mitragynine and its effect was antagonized by naloxone, suggesting that 9-hydroxycorynantheidine possesses partial agonist properties on opioid receptors”
Isomitrafoline:
- < 1% of total alkaloid content found in Kratom leaf.
Isopteropodine:
- Immunostimulant, antimicrobial.
Isospeciofoline:
- 1% of total alkaloid content found in Kratom leaf.
Mitraciliatine:
- < 1% of total alkaloid content found in Kratom leaf.
Mitragynine oxindole B:
- < 1% of total alkaloid content found in Kratom leaf.
Mitrafoline:
- < 1% of total alkaloid content found in Kratom leaf.
Mitraversine:
- Found in Mitragyna parvifolia, and may also be in Mitragyna speciosa
Speciociliatine:
- Diastereomer (C3 stereoisomer) of mitragynine. Weak opioid agonist. May inhibit acetylcholine release from presynaptic nerve through means other than opioid receptor stimulation. 0.8% to 1% of the total alkaloid content of kratom leaf. Unique to Kratom.
Speciofoline:
- Potential analgesic and antitussive. Patented (US3324111) by Smith Kline (of Glaxo Smith Kline) in 1964. Also patented (US20100209542) by the University of Massachusetts Medical School and the University of Mississippi in 2009 to treat opiate withdrawal. As of February 18, 2019, the patent is listed as abandoned.
- More research needed
Tetrahydroalstonine:
- Hypoglycemic, anti-adrenergic (at alpha-2).
So is it legal?
Recently, Kratom has become a hot topic due to its legality. Because of this, some states are banning it such as Alabama, Arkansas, Indiana, Rhode Island, Vermont, Washington DC, Wisconsin, and a handful of select cities and counties. Due to the lack of research on the plant itself, and the lack of regulations on its consumption and use. At one point the FDA was trying to classify it as a schedule one substance, putting it in the same category as heroin, LSD, and marijuana. On the other hand, select states are passing legislation called the Kratom Protection Act.
Given that this act implements the ability for consumers to still legally purchase, and consume. This act not only protects our right to utilize the positive effect of Kratom but also protects us from unregulated and adulterated products that could be dangerous to our health. It implements standard safety requirements such as standard labeling, registration for Kratom production, and more regulations and restrictions stated in the legislation. This act is a huge step forward for the kratom community ensuring these select states have access to clean, pure, and 100% legal Kratom.
