← DISCOVERY / INDOLE ALKALOID

Mitragynine

Principal alkaloid of kratom leaves. Acts as a partial agonist at mu-opioid receptors and an antagonist at kappa and delta — an unusual profile that produces stimulation at low doses and opioid-like effects at higher doses. Also modulates adrenergic and serotonergic systems.

stimulantsedative
Chemical structure of Mitragynine
Structure · Wikimedia contributor See Wikimedia
THREE-DIMENSIONAL STRUCTURE

The molecule, in space.

Atoms positioned in their lowest-energy 3D geometry, sourced from PubChem. Drag to rotate · pinch or scroll to zoom · switch between stick, sphere, and line representations to feel the shape from different angles.

3D structure · PubChem CID 3034396 · drag to rotate · scroll to zoom
SMILES NOTATION
CC[C@@H]1CN2CCC3=C([C@@H]2C[C@@H]1/C(=C\OC)/C(=O)OC)NC4=C3C(=CC=C4)OC
PubChem CID 3034396 →
RECEPTOR PROFILE

The pharmacological targets through which this compound exerts its effects.

μ-opioid partial agonistκ-opioid antagonistα2-adrenergic
NATURAL SOURCES

Living organisms in which this compound is naturally found.

Mitragyna africana (African kratom) observed in Niamina East, Gambia
plant
Afrotropical
Mitragyna africana
African Kratom

African congener of the better-known Southeast Asian kratom (M. speciosa). Contains its own profile of mitragynine-class alkaloids but in different ratios and at lower concentration. Used in West and Central African folk medicine for fever, pain, and as a stimulant tonic.

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Mitragyna speciosa (Kratom)
plant
Indomalayan
Mitragyna speciosa
Kratom

Tropical tree of Southeast Asia whose leaves contain mitragynine and 7-hydroxymitragynine — alkaloids with unusual pharmacology spanning opioid agonism and adrenergic modulation. Stimulating at low doses, sedating and analgesic at higher doses.

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REFERENCES
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RELATED MOLECULES

Other indole alkaloids

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Chemical structure of 7-Hydroxymitragynine
Indole
4–6 hours
7-Hydroxymitragynine
7-OH-mitragynine
sedative

Oxidized minor alkaloid and active metabolite of mitragynine. Substantially more potent at the mu-opioid receptor than mitragynine itself — believed responsible for much of kratom's analgesic and sedative effect at higher leaf doses.

Mitragyna speciosa
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Chemical structure of Yohimbine
Indole
2–4 hours
Yohimbine
Quebrachine
stimulant

Indole alkaloid acting as a selective α2-adrenergic receptor antagonist, increasing noradrenergic tone. Used historically as a peripheral aphrodisiac and now studied for anxiety-related and metabolic effects. Significant interaction risk with MAOIs and many medications.

Pausinystalia johimbe
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