Assessing Variation of Bioactive Alkaloids in Commercially Available Kratom Products

Mitragyna speciosa , commonly known as kratom, is a plant that has traditionally been used as an ethnopharmacological aid for stress relief, fatigue, and pain management in southeast Asian cultures. It has since been banned in many locations where it grows, but has been widely adopted for use in the west for its dose dependent effects, serving as a stimulant in low doses, or as an opioid-like/sedative in high doses. Extensive kratom use induces a variety of negative side-effects, despite being marketed as a safe alternative to traditional medicine. Commercially available kratom in the United States is not currently regulated, so quality control evaluation of kratom products is not required. Lack of quality control is the basis for the current study, where we hypothesize that bioactive alkaloid content in commercially available products may vary significantly. To test this hypothesis, we have begun by analyzing the main alkaloid constituent in kratom, mitragynine, via high performance liquid chromatography to assess variation between powder and liquid extract products. The results of this study are intended to support current kratom research and will be used to inform public health officials of the dangers of kratom to reduce the detrimental and potentially lethal effects of extensive use.