Hermetica Superfood Encyclopedia
Legacy index-continuity record: the score and narrative are provisional and must not be represented as validated or human-approved.
Review flags: AWAITING_SEMANTIC_VALIDATION
Mitragynine is the primary psychoactive alkaloid found in kratom (Mitragyna speciosa), accounting for up to 66% of the plant's alkaloid content. It acts as a partial agonist at mu-opioid receptors while also interacting with adrenergic and serotonergic pathways.
Origin & History
Mitragynine is the primary alkaloid found in the leaves of Mitragyna speciosa (kratom), a tropical tree native to Southeast Asia. It belongs to the indole alkaloid chemical class, specifically a Corynanthe-type alkaloid, and is typically extracted from kratom leaves via solvent-based methods followed by purification.
Research Narrative (Provisional)
Clinical evidence is limited to a single phase 1 safety study (n=15 healthy volunteers) testing 5-40mg doses, which found no serious adverse events but minor vital sign changes. No RCTs, meta-analyses, or larger trials on efficacy for pain, withdrawal, or other therapeutic uses have been conducted. Most evidence remains preclinical, suggesting analgesic potential and reduced drug self-administration in animal models.
Preparation & Dosage
Dosage guidance is withheld because the publication gate has not recorded adequate support for this profile.
Nutritional Profile
Mitragynine is the principal indole alkaloid of Kratom (Mitragyna speciosa), typically comprising 12–66% of total leaf alkaloid content. A dried kratom leaf contains roughly 1–2% total alkaloids by weight, with mitragynine concentrations ranging from approximately 5–20 mg per gram of dried leaf depending on strain and origin. It is a terpenoid indole alkaloid (molecular formula C₂₃H₃₀N₂O₄, MW 398.5) and acts primarily as a partial agonist at mu-opioid receptors and an antagonist/weak partial agonist at delta- and kappa-opioid receptors. It also interacts with adrenergic (alpha-2), serotonergic (5-HT₂A, 5-HT₂C), and dopaminergic pathways. Oral bioavailability in animal models is estimated at approximately 20–30%, with extensive first-pass hepatic metabolism via CYP3A4 and CYP2D6 to yield the more potent metabolite 7-hydroxymitragynine. It contains no meaningful macronutrients, vitamins, minerals, fiber, or protein. Plasma half-life in humans is estimated at approximately 23–24 hours based on limited phase 1 data.
Reported Mechanism (Provisional)
Mitragynine functions as a partial agonist at mu-opioid receptors (MOR) and delta-opioid receptors, producing analgesic effects without full opioid receptor activation. It also modulates alpha-2 adrenergic receptors and 5-HT2A serotonin receptors, contributing to its complex pharmacological profile. The compound undergoes hepatic metabolism to 7-hydroxymitragynine, a more potent opioid receptor agonist.
Clinical Narrative (Provisional)
Human clinical evidence for mitragynine remains extremely limited, with only one phase 1 safety trial conducted in healthy volunteers. This small study (n=12) showed slight increases in impulsivity measures but no serious adverse events at single doses up to 44.1mg. No controlled trials have evaluated mitragynine for pain management or opioid withdrawal despite extensive preclinical research. Most evidence comes from observational studies and case reports of kratom use rather than isolated mitragynine research.
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