Examining the Psychoactive Differences between Kratom Strains

Guido Huisman, Maximilian Menke, Oliver Grundmann, Rudy Schreiber and Natasha Mason ()
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Guido Huisman: Department of Medicinal Chemistry, College of Pharmacy, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA
Maximilian Menke: Department of Neuropsychology and Psychopharmacology, Faculty of Psychology and Neuroscience, Maastricht University, 6229 ER Maastricht, The Netherlands
Oliver Grundmann: Department of Medicinal Chemistry, College of Pharmacy, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA
Rudy Schreiber: Department of Neuropsychology and Psychopharmacology, Faculty of Psychology and Neuroscience, Maastricht University, 6229 ER Maastricht, The Netherlands
Natasha Mason: Department of Neuropsychology and Psychopharmacology, Faculty of Psychology and Neuroscience, Maastricht University, 6229 ER Maastricht, The Netherlands

IJERPH, 2023, vol. 20, issue 14, 1-17

Abstract: Kratom ( Mitragyna speciosa ) is a Southeast Asian plant containing various alkaloids that induce pharmacological effects in humans. In Western countries, online vendors sell a variety of different kratom strains which are marketed to have distinct effect profiles. However, as of yet such marketing claims are unsubstantiated, and therefore the current study investigated whether differently colored kratom products can induce distinct effects, as self-reported by users. Six hundred forty-four current kratom users were anonymously surveyed to compare the self-reported effects of and motivations for using kratom products sold as red, green, and white strains. Most of the survey respondents were customers of the same kratom vendor, the products of which had been analyzed for their alkaloid content by an independent laboratory. The survey respondents reported distinct subjective experiences for different kratom strains, in a manner congruent with common marketing descriptions. However, the product analyses revealed no significant cross-strain differences in alkaloid content, suggesting that the reported effect differences might be disproportionally influenced by marketing narratives and anecdotal reports. Future studies should engage a more diverse population and include kratom strains from various vendors. Controlled, blinded experiments could assess whether the reported effect differences stem from a placebo effect or from alternative factors, e.g., minor alkaloids and terpenes.

Keywords: kratom; Mitragyna speciosa; psychoactive compound; mitragynine; 7-hydroxymitragynine (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
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