Kratom leaves contain two compounds which set it apart from other leaves:
- Mitragynine
- 7-hydroxymitragynine
Both of these compounds are active alkaloids that occur naturally in kratom leaves, and they may have specific effects in the body when kratom leaves are consumed. Due to the recent popularity of kratom and limitations of research, these compounds aren’t as thoroughly studied as compounds like CBD and THC that are found in another plant, marijuana.
Still, there are a few things that are known about how alkaloids like mitragynine and 7-hydroxymitragynine appear in kratom leaves and how they may affect the body.
Kratom Leaf Variation
Different kratom plants have different amounts of mitragynine and 7-hydroxymitragynine in their leaves. The primary alkaloid, mitragynine, is usually present in amounts of up to 2%, while 7-hydroxymitragynine, also known as 7-OH, shows up in much smaller concentrations.
Soil components, nitrogen availability, carbon dioxide levels, temperature, and sun exposure can all have an effect on the alkaloid level in kratom trees. Like any plant, changing the environment the tree grows in will change how it forms.
Depending on how kratom is grown, what the conditions are, and how it is harvested, the amount of alkaloid concentration present in the final, dried leaf may vary. These variations allow for different varieties and strains of kratom to make their way to the market, and they can all have very different chemical compositions.Kratom’s Potential Effects
