Kratom leaf is chemically complex. Researchers have identified several dozen distinct alkaloids in Mitragyna speciosa, and the commercial market pays attention to a small number of them.
The two that matter commercially
Mitragynine
The dominant alkaloid – roughly 60% of the total alkaloid fraction, and typically 1% to 1.5% of dried leaf weight. It has been the focus of most published kratom research. Full mitragynine guide.
7-Hydroxymitragynine
A minor alkaloid present at well under 0.1% of dried leaf weight but considerably more potent by weight than mitragynine. Because it is so scarce in the leaf, commercial products are made from extract rather than ground leaf – which is the entire reason the 7OH market exists. Full 7OH guide.
The other significant alkaloids
Speciogynine, paynantheine and speciociliatine
Present at meaningful concentrations and part of the reason a full-spectrum product behaves differently from an isolate. They receive far less commercial attention and far less research attention. Any vendor claiming a precise effect for one of these is going well beyond what is published.
Minor and trace alkaloids
Several dozen additional compounds have been identified, mostly at trace levels and mostly poorly characterised. Claims about them should be treated with scepticism.
Concentration is the whole story
| Product type | Alkaloid profile | Scale of use |
|---|---|---|
| Ground leaf powder | All alkaloids, low concentration | Grams |
| Mitragynine extract | Concentrated MIT, some minor alkaloids | Tens to hundreds of mg |
| 7OH extract | Concentrated 7-hydroxymitragynine | Low single to tens of mg |
Moving from grams to milligrams is a change in kind, not just in strength. It is why pre-dosed, milligram-labelled products exist – and why a “15mg 7OH” tablet is not comparable to “15mg of kratom”.
Where variation comes from
Alkaloid concentration in leaf varies with tree age, harvest season, region, cultivar and how the leaf was dried and stored. A vendor who buys leaf and presses it without assaying the batch is guessing. Independent testing is the only way anyone – including the seller – knows what is in a product.
Full spectrum vs isolate
These describe whether an extract retains a broad alkaloid profile or concentrates a single alkaloid. Neither is inherently better; what matters is that the vendor tells you which you are buying and documents it. See full spectrum vs isolate.
What we do not claim
We make no claims about effects for any alkaloid. Any vendor telling you what a specific alkaloid does for pain, mood, energy, sleep or anything else is going beyond what the evidence supports and, in most jurisdictions, breaking the law. Our products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.
Related reading
Learn the science
What is actually in kratom leaf, and why the concentration is the whole story.
