{"id":95330,"date":"2026-05-20T17:29:17","date_gmt":"2026-05-20T17:29:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/discover.restek.com\/?p=95330"},"modified":"2026-06-15T11:15:33","modified_gmt":"2026-06-15T11:15:33","slug":"kratom-crackdown-the-fda-push-for-testing-and-scheduling","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/discover.restek.com\/it\/blogs\/gnbl5713\/kratom-crackdown-the-fda-push-for-testing-and-scheduling","title":{"rendered":"Kratom Crackdown: The FDA Push for Testing and Scheduling"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Recently we have seen a rise in the number of \u201clegal\u201d botanicals on the market. One such psychoactive plant is Kratom, which is becoming a growing public health concern. [1] Not only is this popular because of its stimulant and opioid-like effects but it is also easy to purchase. Due to the lack of federal regulation, kratom products are easily purchased from specialty stores, such as gas stations or vape shops. Our previous blog,  Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About Kratom<\/a>, does a great job of describing kratom and its two commonly found psychoactive substances. As described in the blog, kratom has been used for medicinal purposes for centuries, so why is the federal government getting involved now?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

According to the Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report published by the CDC, from 2015 to 2025, the National Poison Data system data documented an increase of approximately 1,200% in kratom-related exposure reports. [1]  This report comes almost a year after the FDA took \u201ca bold step to protect Americans from dangerous, illegal opioids by recommending a scheduling action to control certain 7-hydroxymitragynine (also known as 7-OH) products under the Controlled Substances Act (CSA).\u201d [2]<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But are 7-OH mitragynine and mitragynine the only two bioactive compounds to monitor? In short, the answer is no. Like many other matrices, just because you\u2019re not monitoring it doesn\u2019t mean it\u2019s not there. Ensuring all analytes are fully resolved is the key to a good method. Depending on the strain of kratom, there are many additional alkaloids that should potentially be monitored. Some additional alkaloids include speciogynine, speciociliatine, mitraphylline, and paynantheine. What are these compounds effects on the body, and what is the best way to monitor them?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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What are the compounds functions?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Mitragynine<\/strong> is the primary alkaloid responsible for kratom\u2019s effects. In low doses it acts as a stimulant providing energy and focus. However, at mid-to-high doses, it provides analgesic and anxiolytic (antianxiety) relief. [4] The effects of mitragynine are modulated though opioid receptors, non-opioid receptors, and neurotransmitters, resulting in a complex pharmacological profile. Due to these interactions in the body, it can be habit-forming when used repeatedly. [3]

7-hydroxy mitragynine <\/strong>is 13 times stronger than morphine and 46 times stronger than mitragynine. It is known to be used as a pain reliever. This alkaloid is considered to be fast-acting due to the hydroxy group, this likely contributes to the fast-acting effects it has on the body. [3]<\/p>\n\n\n\n


Speciociliatine<\/strong> is typically the second most abundant alkaloid in the kratom plant, often acting as an analgesic, by lowering acetylcholine levels. [3]<\/p>\n\n\n\n


Speciogynine<\/strong> can vary in concentration over time as the plant matures. While less potent than mitragynine and 7-OH, it\u2019s thought to play a role in synergistic effects by exhibiting many of the same pharmacological effects as the other compounds present in kratom. [3]<\/p>\n\n\n\n


Mitraphylline<\/strong> has significantly less studies around it, but more recently is being studied for its anti-inflammatory properties and anticancer studies. [3]<\/p>\n\n\n\n


Paynantheine<\/strong> calms and reduces muscle actively, specifically in the intestinal tract, thereby blocking signals that would normally make the intestine contract. [3]<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Paynantheine, speciociliatine, and speciogynine all use a non-opioid pathway making them naloxone insensitive. Meaning, naloxone, often known by its brand name Narcan, cannot stop or reverse this effect. [3]  The synergistic effects and lack of effective \u201cantidote\u201d for these compounds readily attribute to an overdose.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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How can we analyze them?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The most cost-effective, user-friendly and robust way to monitor these compounds is using High-Performance Liquid Chromatography with Ultraviolet detection (HPLC-UV). A 10-minute isocratic method was developed using Restek\u2019s Force Inert Biphenyl column.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Figure 1: Chromatogram and Conditions for Six Kratom Alkaloids in Solvent <\/strong><\/div>
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\"Kratom<\/div>

LC_FF0638<\/p>

Peaks<\/h4>\n
<\/th>Peaks<\/th>tR<\/sub> (min)<\/th><\/tr><\/thead>\n
1.<\/td>Mitraphylline<\/a><\/td>2.35<\/td><\/tr>\n
2.<\/td>7-OH Mitragynine<\/td>3.10<\/td><\/tr>\n
3.<\/td>Speciociliatine<\/a><\/td>5.13<\/td><\/tr>\n
4.<\/td>Speciogynine<\/a><\/td>6.39<\/td><\/tr>\n
5.<\/td>Paynantheine<\/td>6.85<\/td><\/tr>\n
6.<\/td>Mitragynine<\/a><\/td>8.35<\/td><\/tr>\n<\/tbody><\/table><\/div>

Conditions<\/h4>
Column<\/th>Force Inert Biphenyl (cat.# 962931E-T<\/a>)<\/td><\/tr>
Dimensions:<\/th>100 mm x 3.0 mm ID<\/td><\/tr>
Particle Size:<\/th>3 \u00b5m<\/td><\/tr>
Pore Size:<\/th>100 \u00c5<\/td><\/tr>
<\/td>
Temp.:<\/th>40 \u00b0C<\/td><\/tr>
Standard\/Sample<\/th><\/td><\/tr>
Diluent:<\/th>50:50 Water:acetonitrile<\/td><\/tr>
Conc.:<\/th>50 ppm<\/td><\/tr><\/td><\/tr>
Inj. Vol.:<\/th>2 \u00b5L <\/td><\/tr>
Mobile Phase<\/th><\/td><\/tr>
A:<\/th>Water, 20 mM ammonium acetate (pH 6.8) <\/td><\/tr>
B:<\/th>Acetonitrile <\/td><\/tr>
<\/td>
Time (min)<\/th>Flow (mL\/min)<\/th>%A<\/th>%B<\/th><\/tr><\/thead>
0.00<\/td>1.00<\/td>60<\/td>40<\/td><\/tr>
10.00<\/td>1.00<\/td>60<\/td>40<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/td><\/tr><\/table>
Detector<\/th>UV-Vis @ 222 nm<\/td><\/tr>
Flow Cell Size:<\/th>500 nL <\/td><\/tr>
Instrument<\/th>Waters ACQUITY UPLC H-Class<\/td><\/tr>
Sample Preparation<\/th>Standards, 50 ppm, were prepared in a 2.0 mL amber, short-cap vial (cat.# 21142<\/a>) containing 50:50 water:acetonitrile diluent and capped with a 9 mm short cap (cat.# 24497<\/a>)<\/td><\/tr><\/table><\/div><\/div><\/div>

Related SKUs<\/h4>