Research

What is speciofoline? The understudied kratom alkaloid

The most studied alkaloids of the 40 identified in kratom are mitragynine (MG) and 7-hydroxymitragynine (7-OH). Recently, a team of researchers studied speciofoline (C22H28N2O5), a kratom alkaloid present in less than 1% of alkaloids. They found that speciofoline does not bind to mu-opioid receptors (MOR) like MG and 7-OH. They also found unexpectedly that levels …

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Is Kratom a Drug?

Is kratom a drug, a medicinal herb, a dietary supplement, a “safe food”, a tea? These terms have a whole lot to do with social perception, a little to do with legal issues, and nothing to do with science. Kratom is a shrub that grows natively in Southeast Asia. Botanically, kratom comes from the Rubiaceae …

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Study shows mitragynine metabolizes into 7-Hydroxymitragynine

Citation Kruegel AC, Uprety R, Grinnell SG, et al. 7-Hydroxymitragynine Is an Active Metabolite of Mitragynine and a Key Mediator of Its Analgesic Effects. ACS Cent Sci. 2019;5(6):992-1001. doi:10.1021/acscentsci.9b00141 Summary by KratomScience A study published in 2019 in the open access journal ACS Central Science found what may be a game changer in the pharmacology …

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Study: Pure mitragynine “does not induce physiological dependence” in rats, treated morphine withdrawal more efficiently than buprenorphine

Article Citation with Link to Full Text Harun N, Johari IS, Mansor SM, Shoaib M. Assessing physiological dependence and withdrawal potential of mitragynine using schedule-controlled behaviour in rats. Psychopharmacology (Berl). 2020;237(3):855-867. doi:10.1007/s00213-019-05418-6 Summary by KratomScience Rats were studied in two separate experiments: Experiment 1: Observing withdrawal in rats given morphine vs. rats given mitragynine Three …

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Interview with Marc Swogger, University of Rochester social scientist

An audio version of this interview can be found here. Dr. Marc Swogger is an associate professor at the University of Rochester Medical Center, Department of Psychiatry. Dr. Swogger is a social scientist and psychologist who studies substance use. He has co-authored multiple studies on the individual and public health effects of the use of …

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No evidence kratom cures coronavirus

Wash your hands, stay in your house, avoid other people as much as possible. Covid-19 rates are climbing exponentially. Following these simple steps will save lives in your community. There’s no evidence kratom is a cure for the COVID-19 strain of Coronavirus. It is completely irresponsible to suggest otherwise. Anyone experiencing symptoms should call their …

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Interview with Dirk Netter, author of the first German language book about kratom

Dirk Netter is the author of the first major German language book on kratom. Kratom – Ethnobotanik, Anwendung, Kultur (English: Kratom – Ethnobotany, Application, and Culture) is soon to be released by Nachtschatten Verlag (Nightshade Press), a publisher from Switzerland. In 2018, Netter founded HIPF, or Hochschulgruppe für interdisziplinäre psychedelische Forschung, translated to English: the …

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