7-Hydroxymitragynine vs Mitragynine – What They’re Not Telling You

Rob Heals
Aug 10
2 min read

Enter any herbal forum or surf plant hobbyist forums, and two names are apt to raise eyebrows. Among Kratom aficionados, they are usually the names that raise eyebrows: Mitragynine and 7-Hydroxymitragynine. They are both naturally occurring alkaloids in the leaves of Mitragyna speciosa, but the conversation always seems to circle back to one thing which one is more potent, and why?

For those investigating the intricacies of these substances, having knowledge of their distinctions can serve to educate a more defined comprehension of how they are talked about within botanical communities. Both Mitragynine and 7-Hydroxymitragynine can be found at Entheogenic Emporium for those investigating their distinct natures.

The Basics: What Are We Comparing?

Mitragynine is the most common alkaloid in Kratom leaves, often representing over half of the leaf alkaloids. It's the "baseline" molecule in the context of chemistry when discussing Kratom a standard against which other molecules in the plant are measured.

7-Hydroxymitragynine is a minor alkaloid found in lower concentrations in crude leaf. Ironically, it's not just "less of the same" it has a different molecular structure, and this impacts its activity profile.

Potency and Perception

7-Hydroxymitragynine is generally described in the botanical research community as being stronger per milligram than Mitragynine. While Mitragynine dominates the leaf material makeup, the extreme concentration of potency for 7-OH means it is described as being active even in very minute quantities.

But that doesn't make 7-OH "better" in all situations it's simply different. As most botanists observe, Mitragynine is more gradual, more general in its action, and 7-OH is marked by more immediate and powerful specificity at much lower doses.

Why Simply Potency Does Not Tell the Whole Story

In comparing these two alkaloids, one must not simply compare potency. The greater incidence of Mitragynine makes it more predominant in the plant profile of Natural Kratom. 7-OH's unavailability in raw leaf thus makes its effect in pure form more intensely and directly experienced.

Further, some scientists observe that 7-Hydroxymitragynine may be derived from Mitragynine in some metabolic reactions, which further complicates the issue of potency sometimes, the two substances aren't merely coexisting, but chemically bonded.

Final Thoughts

And is 7-Hydroxymitragynine more potent than regular Mitragynine? In milligrams to milligrams, the answer is a resounding yes. But that's not all. What these drugs are like in nature, how they interact with each other, and what kind of environment they're in all play a role in how they are perceived. Whether you prefer research-grade Mitragynine or the concentrated loveliness of 7-Hydroxymitragynine, comparison of the two paints a clearer picture of the chemical profile of Mitragyna speciosa. For those who would rather have both compounds side by side, Entheogenic Emporium has both compounds on offer for further study.