Variations in mitragynine content in the naturally growing Kratom (Mitragyna speciosa) population of Thailand

Nisa Leksungnoen; Tushar Andriyas; Chatchai Ngernsaengsaruay; Suwimon Uthairatsamee; Phruet Racharak; Weerasin Sonjaroon; Roger Kjelgren; Brian J Pearson; Christopher R McCurdy; Abhisheak Sharma

doi:10.3389/fpls.2022.1028547

Variations in mitragynine content in the naturally growing Kratom (Mitragyna speciosa) population of Thailand

Front Plant Sci. 2022 Oct 27:13:1028547. doi: 10.3389/fpls.2022.1028547. eCollection 2022.

Authors

Affiliations

¹ Department of Forest Biology, Faculty of Forestry, Kasetsart University, Bangkok, Thailand.
² Kasetsart University Research and Development Institute (KURDI), Kasetsart University, Bangkok, Thailand.
³ Center for Advance Studies in Tropical Natural Resources, National Research University-Kasetsart University, Kasetsart University, Bangkok, Thailand.
⁴ Department of Botany, Faculty of Science, Kasetsart University, Bangkok, Thailand.
⁵ School of Integrated Science, Kasetsart University, Bangkok, Thailand.
⁶ The University of Florida (UF)/Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (IFAS) Department of Environmental Horticulture, Mid-Florida Research and Education Center, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida, Apopka, FL, United States.
⁷ Department of Medicinal Chemistry, College of Pharmacy, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States.
⁸ Department of Pharmaceutics, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States.

Abstract

We analyzed the content of mitragynine (MG) found in kratom leaves (Mitragyna speciosa) and the influence of different environmental conditions (air and soil variables) on the yield in various regions of Thailand. The content of MG in kratom leaves ranged from 7.5 - 26.6 mg g^-1 of dry leaf weight. Canonical correspondence analysis showed that the most significant environmental variables affecting the MG content among the various regions were light intensity, relative humidity, soil volumetric water content (VW), soil pH, and calcium. This study is a first step towards providing information about environmental conditions suitable to maximize the quality and quantity of bioactive alkaloids in kratom. Future studies should focus on leaf collection and the post-harvest processes in order to assure the desired alkaloidal content in finished products, when produced under suitable environmental conditions identified in this study.

Keywords: Mitragyna speciosa; canonical correspondence analysis (CCA); environmental factors; kratom; mitragynine.