2026 Undergraduate Research Showcase

Evaluating the Inhibitory Potential of Kratom Alkaloids on Cytrochrome P450

Document Type

Student Presentation

Presentation Date

4-24-2026

Faculty Sponsor

Dr. Owen McDougal and Anna Shuey

Abstract

U.S. consumption of kratom (Mitragyna speciosa) has increased to nearly two million users as of 2022. The popularity of kratom products is attributed to their dose-dependent effects, where low doses are excitatory, and high doses are sedative. Individuals addicted to opioids who can no longer obtain them through a physician are increasingly turning to kratom as an accessible alternative. Despite being marketed as safe, kratom use is perilous, resulting in adverse events – including death – especially in poly-substance use with opioids or benzodiazepines. Between 2016 and 2017, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) investigated 152 deaths involving kratom. Of these, 60% were determined to be caused by kratom, with only 7 instances of kratom detected as the sole substance in postmortem toxicology. Kratom is a natural substance that is federally unregulated; therefore, quality control evaluation of commercial products is not required. Although mitragynine and 7-hydroxymitragynine have been extensively studied, several other bioactive alkaloids remain underexplored. There is a critical need to understand the pharmacokinetic properties of other alkaloids in kratom. The current study addresses this by using in vitro cytochrome P450 assays to assess the potential for drug-herb interactions. The result of this investigation will inform regulatory bodies with the data needed to inform consumer safety guidelines.

This document is currently not available here.

Share

COinS