Alkaloids are active compounds found in kratom, and it is the one responsible for most of its effects. In this article, we will be able to tackle different kratom alkaloids and effects on the human body. There are a lot of alkaloids that are found in kratom leaves. Some of these still needed to be studied more precisely to identify their medicinal benefits and potential activity it can do to a person.

Alkaloid content can vary even from the same trees due to different factors from the environment it grew and human factors. One example is the length of the rainy or dry season; this affects when the time of harvest comes. Usually, the highest mitragynine content is present in leaves, especially those that were harvested during the first growth spurt when the rainfall is back after a long dry season. 

How are Kratom Alkaloids Produced?

Alkaloids are formed most of it when plant tissues are still young and actively growing. For this reason, the younger tissues of a plant are much more susceptible and adaptable to seasonal and environmental changes, on the other hand, the older parts and tissues of a plant cannot keep up on the stress it experiences because of this factor. But there are still different factors that influence which alkaloids a plant produces and how much a plant can produce a certain kind of alkaloid at any given time.

Alkaloids are connected to a plant’s specific gene pathways as well as any external influence on those pathways may affect the production of the process. For example, sunlight, soil content and moisture, and temperature can all affect how kratom and other plants produce alkaloids. There has not been a precise method to identify how kratom alkaloids are being produced. As of the moment, we are sure that kratom alkaloids and effects come from the interaction of multiple different biological gene pathways.

These pathways can affect different plant species in different ways. A specific mineral increases the alkaloid content in one plant in a particular pathway, but it might have the opposite effect on the same path from another plant. There are a lot of environmental factors that affect the alkaloid content production in specific ways.

Kratom Alkaloids and their Effects

Kratom has several alkaloids. It is said that there are about 40 alkaloids present, which act as an active ingredient. However, there are also those more potent alkaloids, which are the main ones. Namely, they are mitragynine and 7-hydroxy mitragynine. These alkaloids act on the monoaminergic and Opiate receptors.

Mitragynine Alkaloid

Mitragynine is the most abundant alkaloid found in the leaves. This component is insoluble when mixed with water. Still, it can be soluble in conventional organic solvents such as acetic acid, acetone, alcohols, chloroform, and diethyl ether that provides fluorescent solutions. This major active alkaloid can be converted to an active metabolite.

Mitragynine is also classified as a kappa-opioid receptor agonist, and it is about 13 times more potent than morphine. This active component is responsible for the opioid-like effects. This component is usually used for the treatment of pain and opioid withdrawal.

Hydroxymitragynine Alkaloid

The 7-hydroxymitragynine component is present only in kratom leaves but at a small amount compared to mitragynine, and it was identified in 1993. The total chemical syntheses found for several kratom alkaloids were too complex to be used for any economic production of these compounds. However, this component is about 17 times fold higher than morphine. 

This component has milder side effects than morphine, just like the development of tolerance, constipation, and withdrawal syndrome upon abstinence. Even though this is a minor constituent found in kratom, it has a higher effect than the normal one. This component is considered to be the most potent agonistic effect compared to other kratom alkaloids and effects it is done on the body.

Paynantheine

It is an indole alkaloid that is responsible for a smooth relaxer. It is the second most abundant alkaloid present in kratom, and the research for this component is still ongoing of what it does. There are about 8.6% to 9% of total alkaloid content from a kratom leaf.

Speciogynine

This component has the potential to be a smooth muscle relaxer of about 6.6% to 7% total alkaloid content present in kratom leaf, which represents the third most abundant ingredient.

Mitraphylline

It is an oxindole alkaloid which is <1% total alkaloid content that has a capability of the following:

• Muscle Relaxer
• Diuretic
• Antiamnesic
• Antihypertensive
• Vasodilator
• Anti-leukemic
• Potential Immunostimulant

Isomitraphylline

It has less than 1% of total alkaloid content found in a kratom leaf, which has an effect of immunostimulant and anti-leukemic.

Speciophylline Component

It is an indole Alkaloid about <1% of total alkaloid content from a kratom leaf.

Rhynchophylline

This is about a <1% of total alkaloid content from a kratom leaf.

• Vasodilator
• Anti Hypertensive
• Calcium Channel Blocker
• Antiaggregant
• Anti-inflammatory
• Fever Reducing
• And there are still other possible effects on dopamine and 5-HT receptors.

Isorhychophylline

• Immunostimulant
• Possible Antihypertensive and neuroprotective
• <1% total alkaloid content

Ajmalicine (Raubasine)

This component has a lot of possible effects such as antiaggregant, anti-adrenergic, cerebral circulation, acts as a sedative, anticonvulsant, and smooth muscle relaxer. It is similarly related to alkaloids from Yohimbe.

Other Kratom Alkaloids

• Akuammiline
• Ciliaphylline
• Corynantheİdine (rauhimbine)
• Corynanthine
• Corynoxine A and B
• Epicatechin
• 9-Hydroxycorynantheidine
• Isomitrafoline
• Isopteropodine
• Isospeciofoline
• Mitraciliatine
• Mitragynine oxindole B
• Mitrafoline
• Mitraversine
• Speciociliatine
• Speciofoline
• Stipulatine
• Tetrahydroalstonine

Most of these are also have <1% of total alkaloid content from a Kratom leaf.

Conclusion

To wrap it up, the variety of kratom alkaloids and effects that are found and discovered in diverse samples up to this day still needs further studies and experimentation in the medical aspect to make use of its fullest potential to be a useful kratom supplement and alternative for illnesses and prevention. It may need further investigation and effect for potential application, but there are companies nowadays that proves the helpful existence of kratom medicines.