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The term Kratom refers to the Mitragyna speciosa tree, but also mainly to this tree’s leaves when used as a psychoactive or medicine, and their derived products such as crude extracts. The most common acceptance is that Kratom refers specifically to Mitragyna speciosa. Yet due to regional (nature of the area where Kratom is grown) and seasonal (time of the year when the leaves are picked) variations and preparations, different “types” of Mitragyna speciosa Kratom can be distinguished.

With the development of Kratom trade, some Kratom “strains” or denominations have become common. These strain names were created or chosen according to a wide range of factors, such as actual geography / production area, physical appearance, or estimations of grade and potency for instance. Some Kratom denominations are more accepted than others are representing actual qualitative differences, whereas some are little more than commercial sales pitches. Here is a list of some of these...

The Internet fuelled a globalisation of Kratom’s availability, and has also lead to some mistakes or even abuse by vendors. Fake Kratom is said to have been widely sold in the past, notably under the name "mellow gold", which was one of the first imports of what was thought to be Mitragyna speciosa Kratom leaf, but found to be misidentified. The product was alleged to be Kratom imported from Myanmar (where Kratom is currently illegal), yet the leaves did not match common botanical...

The following common forms and preparations of “true” Mitragyna speciosa Kratom can be distinguished: Leaf form Kratom Traditional Kratom users of Thailand and Malaysia distinguish between different types of Kratom, the two main varieties being distinguished by the colour leaf’s veins – which are either red (red veined Kratom) or green/white (most often referred to simply as white veined Kratom). The green/white-veined variety of Kratom is supposed to have a stronger effect. One survey of...

The vernacular term Kratom refers to the Mitragyna speciosa var. Korthals tree and the products derived from its leaves, which concentrate the plant’s active principles. The botanical classification of Mitragyna speciosa Kratom is as follows: Division: Magnoliophyta Class: Magnoliopsida Order: Gentianales Family: Rubiaceae Genus: Mitragyna Species: M. speciosa The Mitragyna speciosa Kratom tree is in the Rubiaceae botanical family, a genus that includes many well know and useful...

Recently Mitragyna speciosa Kratom has been successfully cultivated outside of its traditional / indigenous growing area, from seeds then, more frequently, from cuttings. Growing Mitragyna speciosa Kratom from seed is very difficult, and it is much more recommended to start cultivation from plants or cutting, which can be bought from online merchants. Furthermore, though this has not been looked into, growers from traditional Kratom growing areas (such as Thailand) often state that seed...

Mitragyna speciosa Kratom is most commonly classified as a “non-opioid narcotic”, yet this classification only partially reflects the effects of Kratom, which also has notable stimulant effects. Through its phyto-chemistry, pharmacology and psycho-physiological activity, Mitragyna speciosa Kratom shares some elements of the activity of various other substances, including opiates/opioids and yohimbine. Yet Mitragyna speciosa Kratom is really in a league of its own. Indeed, such a broad...

The Mitragyna species are very rich in active compounds, and over 40 alkaloids have already been isolated in the leaves of its various species. Mitragyna speciosavar. Korthals has over 25 reported active alkaloids. The alkaloid content of the Kratom tree’s leaves varies from place to place, and at different times of the year. Within each location, there is a quantitative variation in alkaloid content from month to month, the indole content seemingly the most stable, while the oxindole...

Mitragynine is an indole alkaloid with the molecular formula C23H30N2O4. It is the most abundant active alkaloid in the plant Kratom plant Mitragyna speciosa, and was therefore first thought to be responsible for the plant’s activity, before 7-hydroxymitragynine was looked into, and proved to be much more potent. According to available studies the average alkaloid content of common red-veined leaves of Mitragyna speciosa is said to be about 0.5%, about half of which would be mitragynine...

Mitragynine was once thought to be Mitragyna speciosa Kratom’s main active ingredient, yet more recently it has been found that the main active constituent is in fact more likely to be the potent 7-hydroxy derivative of mitragynine: 7-hydroxymitragynine First mentioned in a 1994 study paper, 7-hydroxymitragynine is another indole, with the molecular formula C23H30N2O5. While present in the Kratom plant in much smaller quantities than mitragynine (2% of the total alkaloid content in Kratom...