Examining the Psychoactive Differences between Kratom Strains

Abstract

Kratom (Mitragyna speciosa) is a Southeast Asian plant containing various alkaloids that induce pharmacological effects in humans. In Western countries, online vendors sell a variety of different kratom strains which are marketed to have distinct effect profiles. However, as of yet such marketing claims are unsubstantiated, and therefore the current study investigated whether differently colored kratom products can induce distinct effects, as self-reported by users. Six hundred forty-four current kratom users were anonymously surveyed to compare the self-reported effects of and motivations for using kratom products sold as red, green, and white strains. Most of the survey respondents were customers of the same kratom vendor, the products of which had been analyzed for their alkaloid content by an independent laboratory. The survey respondents reported distinct subjective experiences for different kratom strains, in a manner congruent with common marketing descriptions. However, the product analyses revealed no significant cross-strain differences in alkaloid content, suggesting that the reported effect differences might be disproportionally influenced by marketing narratives and anecdotal reports. Future studies should engage a more diverse population and include kratom strains from various vendors. Controlled, blinded experiments could assess whether the reported effect differences stem from a placebo effect or from alternative factors, e.g., minor alkaloids and terpenes.

Research and publication gaps on kratom and kratom products: a scoping review of current literature

“…Between 2022 and 2023, there were 12 articles published based on responses collected using surveys or questionnaires: 8 from the United States [41][42][43][44][45][46][47][48], 1 from United States and Europe [49], 2 from Malaysia [50,51], and 1 from Thailand [52]. All these studies recruited self-selected cohorts of participants and they typically utilized ad hoc created survey questionnaires, rather than standardized or validated assessment instruments.…”

Kratom safety and toxicology in the public health context: research needs to better inform regulation

“…7-hydroxymitragynine (7OHMG), a MG metabolite not reliably detected in fresh kratom leaves but results from hepatic metabolism is, at high doses, self-administered intravenously by animals, indicating its reinforcing effects ( Hemby et al, 2019 ). More research is needed on other kratom alkaloids and metabolites, such as speciociliatine, to determine if they contribute to the rewarding or reinforcing effects of kratom, or to the self-reported reasons for use and beneficial effects from human kratom use (e.g., Flores-Bocanegra et al, 2020 ; Henningfield et al, 2022d ; Kamble et al, 2022 ; Huisman et al, 2023 ).…”