Many have heard of Kratom, an herbal substance derived from an evergreen species indigenous to Southeast Asia called Mitragyna speciosa. Kratom leaf gained widespread popularity in the 2000s and 2010's for its stimulant and analgesic properties. But, 7-hydroxymitragynine or 7-OH, one of kratom's lesser known alkaloids, is only just beginning to captivate the attention of pharmaceutical scientists as well as chronic pain patients.
Kratom leaves are crushed then brewed as tea, smoked or ingested as gel caps. It can be purchased at specialty herb shops, smoke shops or even gas stations alongside a variety of bottled extracts. These extracts contain isolates of the leaf’s bioactive alkaloids, including Mitragynine (MIT). MIT, the largest alkaloid in the plant, can provide energy to its users in low doses and analgesia in high doses. MIT also functions as a partial agonist at the mu and delta opioid receptors, and research suggests that mitragynine has the potential to attenuate the release of cortisone, inducing antidepressant effects as well as stimulant/opioid effects.
7-hydroxymitragynine, however, is present in much smaller quantities. If a kratom sample contained 1% MIT, there would likely only be 0.01% - 0.02% of 7-hydroxymitragynine. But, this small alkaloid packs a formidable punch and scientists surmise it is 10-30x times more potent than MIT and also capable of working as a partial agonist at the mu receptors. 7-OH does not interact with the beta-arrestin pathway, suggesting that the respiratory depression and gastrointestinal issues that occur with typical opiates will not be as pronounced or risky in 7-hydroxymitragynine users. However, the potential for abuse, addiction and withdrawal symptoms are also sigmificant in those who consume high doses of 7-OH.
The American Kratom Association (AKA) denounced the use of 7-hydroxymitragynine, stating that 7-OH products were not representative of Kratom. The AKA's consumer warning conveyed that the 7-OH being marketed to the public is highly concentrated, and does not naturally occur in Kratom, and therefore is not indicative of the authentic properties of the Kratom plant. Because the long-term health implications of using extracted and purified forms of 7-OH remain unknown, its place in pharmaceutical pain relief has yet to be determined.
Assessed and Endorsed by the MedReport Medical Review Board