Appreciated by millions around the world, Kratom has become a trending topic for new and old customers alike.
Everyone wants to know all they can about Kratom, and one of the most searched questions on Google regarding Kratom is ‘What makes Kratom special?’
The answer is simple: Mitragynine. But what is mitragynine, and why is it such an important component of Kratom? Do other chemicals exist inside this fascinating herb? Keep reading to find out the answers to these questions and more!
Kratom and its Active Ingredients
The Western world discovered the sublime Kratom herb in 1836, but it wasn’t until the 1960s that the scientific community began to study Kratom’s chemical make-up. It was found that the Kratom leaf, which is obtained from the Mitragyna Speciosa plant, contains up to 40 different chemicals!
These chemicals are called active ingredients as they are considered biologically alive. This means that they are interacting with the Kratom and, as a result, are responsible for all of Kratom’s mysterious properties. Most of the chemicals in Kratom are related to each other, and they can be classified as alkaloids, glycosides, flavonoids, etc. While all these chemicals play important roles in Kratom, the two most important ones are known as:
Mitragynine
7-hydroxymitragynine (7-OH)
It doesn’t matter if you buy Kratom products such as Kratom powders, Kratom capsules, or Kratom extracts—all of them will contain a certain amount of mitragynine and 7-OH.
Is Mitragynine An Alkaloid or Opioid?
Mitragynine is known to be a prominent alkaloid present in Kratom, and studies have shown that a higher amount of this naturally-present alkaloid equals higher quality Kratom. While the properties of mitragynine are similar to morphine (an opioid), they are not members of the opioid family.
Scientifically speaking, alkaloids are nitrogen-containing compounds, and mitragynine falls into this grouping. In the scientific community, some alkaloids can act as defense mechanisms for plants as they are toxic. However, it is vital to remember that not all alkaloids are toxic, and mitragynine does not fall into the toxic category.
Chemistry of Mitragynine
As mitragynine is one of the principal chemicals in Kratom, all Kratom enthusiasts want to gather information on it. The first thing that any admirer of Kratom should know is that mitragynine holds a bigger percentage in the Kratom leaf than 7-OH.
Systematic Name:
The systematic name given to mitragynine is as follows:
(αE, 2S, 3S, 12bS)-3-ethyl-1,2,3,4,6,7,12,12b-octahydro-8-methoxy-α-(methoxymethylene)-indolo[2,3-a]quinolizine-2-acetic acid methyl ester.
Molecular Formula and More Details:
The molecular formula of mitragynine is ‘C23H30N2O4’ while the molecular weight is 398.50 g/mol. The melting point of this compound is between 102C to 106C. Furthermore, mitragynine is also registered with the Chemical Abstracts Service as 4098-40-2.
Other Names of Mitragynine:
In the scientific community, many refer to mitragynine with other names such as:
Some Kratom admirers think that only different Kratom strains contain different levels of mitragynine; however, the story does not end there. The fact is different Kratom colors exist in the Kratom leaf, and each color possesses a varying amount of mitragynine!
People searching for Green Kratom might be aware that it has the least amount of alkaloids out of all the Kratom colors meaning that the mitragynine concentration is low. In White Kratom, there is a balanced level of such alkaloids, and in Red Kratom, the highest number of alkaloids, such as mitragynine, are found.
Customers who prefer buying Kratom with fewer alkaloids go for Green Kratom strains; however, if you’re a Kratom enthusiast who prefers high concentrations of mitragynine, you should give the Red Kratom strains a buy!
Does Mitragynine Really Make Kratom Suspicious?
The short answer is “no” as Mitragynine is a naturally occurring compound that is found in all the kratom strains. Mitragynine along with 7-Hydroxymitragynine are what give Kratom its peculiar characteristic properties and there is an ongoing debate that a natural herb should never be declared illegal.
That being said, Kratom is largely legal in the majority of US states. Read this article if you want to know the answer to ‘Is Kratom Legal in California?’
Where to Buy Pure and Authentic Kratom
If you want to make sure you don’t get stuck buying Kratom from faulty vendors, just buy your products from Green Leaf Kratom! When you buy your Kratom from us, you can be sure that you are getting the best quality products as we source our Kratom directly from Southeast Asia.
Furthermore, we try to offer our customers the lowest prices in the market and for this, we provide coupons to our valued customers so they can avail discounts. Just go through all the Kratom for sale we offer on our website and choose which strain you want to use your coupon on!
If you’re interested in learning more about Kratom, visit our detailed Kratom blog.
