Kratom Alkaloids 101: What Is Actually in Kratom Leaf
Kratom contains dozens of alkaloids. Here is what they are, which ones matter commercially, and why the concentration question is the whole ballgame.
What an alkaloid is
An alkaloid is a naturally occurring nitrogen-containing compound produced by a plant, usually as a defence mechanism against insects and herbivores. Caffeine, nicotine, morphine and quinine are all alkaloids. Kratom – Mitragyna speciosa, a tree in the coffee family native to Southeast Asia – produces its own set, and researchers have identified several dozen distinct ones in the leaf.
The ones that matter commercially
Mitragynine
The dominant alkaloid, typically around 1% to 1.5% of dried leaf weight and roughly 60% of the total alkaloid fraction. It is the compound most kratom research focuses on. Read the full mitragynine guide.
7-Hydroxymitragynine
A minor alkaloid present in the leaf at well under 0.1%, but considerably more potent by weight than mitragynine. Because there is so little of it in raw leaf, commercial 7OH products are made from extract rather than ground leaf. That single fact explains the entire 7OH market. Read What is 7OH?.
Speciogynine, paynantheine and speciociliatine
Other alkaloids present at meaningful concentrations. They receive far less commercial attention and very much less research attention. They matter for one practical reason: they are part of the reason a full-spectrum leaf product and an isolated alkaloid product are not the same thing, even when a vendor quotes a similar headline number.
The rest
Several dozen additional minor alkaloids have been identified. Most are present in trace amounts and are poorly characterised. Any vendor claiming a precise effect for a specific trace alkaloid is going well beyond the published evidence.
Why concentration is the whole story
Two products can both say “kratom” on the label and be completely different in practice:
| Product type | What is in it | Scale of use |
|---|---|---|
| Ground leaf powder | Whole dried leaf, all alkaloids, low concentration | Grams |
| Mitragynine extract | Concentrated mitragynine, some minor alkaloids | Tens to hundreds of mg |
| 7OH extract | Concentrated 7-hydroxymitragynine | Low single digits to tens of mg |
The move from grams to milligrams is the move from a botanical to a concentrated alkaloid product. That is a real change in kind, not just in strength, and it is why pre-dosed, milligram-labelled formats exist. It is also why a “15mg 7OH” tablet and “15mg of kratom” are not remotely the same thing.
Where the alkaloid content comes from
Alkaloid concentration in kratom leaf varies with the age of the tree, the season of harvest, the region, the specific cultivar, and how the leaf is dried and stored. A vendor who buys leaf and presses it without assaying the batch is guessing. Independent testing is not a marketing extra in this category – without it, nobody knows what is in the product, including the seller.
Every batch we buy is assayed by an independent laboratory for alkaloid content, and screened for heavy metals, microbial contamination and residual solvents. Certificates of analysis are published on the Lab Results page and matched to batch numbers printed on your packaging.
Extraction, in plain terms
Extraction is the process of separating alkaloids from plant material. A solvent is used to pull the alkaloids out of the leaf, the solvent is then removed, and what remains is a concentrated extract. Quality depends on three things: the quality of the input leaf, the cleanliness of the process, and – critically – the removal of residual solvent. That last point is why a purity panel matters as much as a potency panel. A product can be exactly 15mg of 7OH and still be a poor product if the extraction left residues behind.
A note on “full spectrum” and “isolate”
Full spectrum generally means the extract retains a broad range of the leaf’s alkaloids. Isolate means a single alkaloid has been concentrated with the others largely removed. They are different products with different alkaloid profiles, and neither is inherently better. What matters is that the vendor tells you which one you are buying and backs it with a lab report. Ours are isolates with published assays. See 7OH powders and MIT powders.
Responsible use, regardless of which alkaloid
- One serving per day maximum. Never exceed the label.
- 21+ only. Not for use by anyone pregnant, nursing or taking prescription medication without clearance.
- Never combine with alcohol or any other central nervous system depressant.
- Do not drive or operate machinery after use.
- Tolerance builds and dependence is possible. See the dosage guide.
- Keep out of reach of children and pets.
Keep reading
What is 7OH? · What is mitragynine? · Dosage guide · Is 7OH legal? · FAQs