Evaluation of 24-Hour vs. 6-Hour Alkaloid Extraction Efficiency from Kratom Powder
Faculty Mentor Information
Dr. Owen McDougal, Boise State University; and Anna Shuey, Boise State University
Presentation Date
7-16-2026
Abstract
Mitragyna speciosa (kratom) is a plant traditionally used as an ethnopharmacological aid for stress relief, fatigue, and pain management in Southeast Asia. Kratom has been widely adopted for use in the West for its dose-dependent effects - acting as a stimulant in low doses or commensurate with opioids in high doses. Extensive kratom use induces a variety of negative side effects, despite being marketed as a safe alternative to traditional medicine. In the United States, commercially available kratom products are not regulated, resulting in a lack of quality control and potential variability in bioactive alkaloid content. This study investigates extraction efficiency of the four most abundant alkaloids in kratom - mitragynine, paynantheine, speciociliatine, and speciogynine - from kratom powder via high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) tandem mass spectrometry. Previously, a 24-hour extraction method was used to assess differences in powder and encapsulated power. This method has since been scaled down for shelf-life studies. The old method achieved, on average, an extraction efficiency of 92% while in a quarter of the time the revised method is about 95%. The findings of this study are intended to support current kratom research, improve understanding of product variability, and provide data for public health and consumer safety.
Evaluation of 24-Hour vs. 6-Hour Alkaloid Extraction Efficiency from Kratom Powder
Mitragyna speciosa (kratom) is a plant traditionally used as an ethnopharmacological aid for stress relief, fatigue, and pain management in Southeast Asia. Kratom has been widely adopted for use in the West for its dose-dependent effects - acting as a stimulant in low doses or commensurate with opioids in high doses. Extensive kratom use induces a variety of negative side effects, despite being marketed as a safe alternative to traditional medicine. In the United States, commercially available kratom products are not regulated, resulting in a lack of quality control and potential variability in bioactive alkaloid content. This study investigates extraction efficiency of the four most abundant alkaloids in kratom - mitragynine, paynantheine, speciociliatine, and speciogynine - from kratom powder via high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) tandem mass spectrometry. Previously, a 24-hour extraction method was used to assess differences in powder and encapsulated power. This method has since been scaled down for shelf-life studies. The old method achieved, on average, an extraction efficiency of 92% while in a quarter of the time the revised method is about 95%. The findings of this study are intended to support current kratom research, improve understanding of product variability, and provide data for public health and consumer safety.