Mitragynine

What is Mitragynine?

Mitragynine 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.

Where does Mitragynine occur naturally?

Mitragynine occurs in the leaves of Mitragyna speciosa (kratom), a tree in the Rubiaceae family native to Southeast Asia. It is consistently reported as the most abundant alkaloid in the leaf alkaloid fraction.

What is the molecular formula of Mitragynine?

Mitragynine has the molecular formula C23H30N2O4.

Is Mitragynine found in kratom?

Mitragynine is one of the naturally occurring alkaloids in the leaves of Mitragyna speciosa, the tree commonly known as kratom.

How is Mitragynine identified?

Mitragynine is identified and measured by chromatographic and spectroscopic analysis of the leaf alkaloid fraction, which resolves it from the other Mitragyna alkaloids.

How is Mitragynine related to the other Mitragyna alkaloids?

Mitragynine shares its indole scaffold with a family of naturally occurring diastereomers and analogues in Mitragyna speciosa, including speciociliatine, speciogynine, and paynantheine.

Structure and chemistry

Mitragynine belongs to the corynanthe class of monoterpenoid indole alkaloids. Its structure combines an indole nucleus with a quinolizidine ring system and bears a methoxy group on the aromatic ring and a beta-methoxyacrylate side chain.

As a member of the Mitragyna alkaloid family, it is structurally related to a group of diastereomers and analogues that share the same indole scaffold and differ in stereochemistry or oxidation state.

Mitragynine compared with related alkaloids

Related alkaloids

• Speciociliatine
• Paynantheine
• Speciogynine

Sources

1. [1]Phytochemical characterization of indole alkaloids in Mitragyna speciosa (review)