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Mitragynine and Speciociliatine
Mitragynine and speciociliatine are two monoterpenoid indole alkaloids that occur naturally in the leaves of Mitragyna speciosa. They share the molecular formula C23H30N2O4 and the same indole scaffold, and are diastereomers that differ in stereochemistry at the C-3 position.
We are an extraction lab, so this is the chemistry we work in every day. Below is a plain reference to each alkaloid and its structure, a side-by-side comparison of the two, and the related leaf alkaloids.
What defines the class
Each member is built on an indole nucleus joined to a quinolizidine ring system. Members differ by stereochemistry, degree of unsaturation, oxidation state, or substituent pattern, and are resolved from one another by chromatographic and spectroscopic analysis. The entries below cover the naturally occurring alkaloids documented in the leaf alkaloid fraction.
Mitragynine, speciociliatine, and related alkaloids
Mitragynine
C23H30N2O4Mitragynine is a monoterpenoid indole alkaloid with the molecular formula C23H30N2O4 that occurs naturally in the leaves of Mitragyna speciosa, where it is the predominant alkaloid.
PredominantSpeciociliatine
C23H30N2O4Speciociliatine is a monoterpenoid indole alkaloid and a diastereomer of mitragynine, sharing the molecular formula C23H30N2O4, that occurs naturally as a minor alkaloid in the leaves of Mitragyna speciosa.
MinorPaynantheine
C23H28N2O4Paynantheine is a monoterpenoid indole alkaloid with the molecular formula C23H28N2O4 that occurs naturally in the leaves of Mitragyna speciosa, where it is commonly reported as the second most abundant alkaloid after mitragynine.
Second most abundantSpeciogynine
C23H30N2O4Speciogynine is a monoterpenoid indole alkaloid and a diastereomer of mitragynine, sharing the molecular formula C23H30N2O4, that occurs naturally as a minor alkaloid in the leaves of Mitragyna speciosa.
Minor
This reference describes chemical structure and natural occurrence only.