# Understanding Kratom Alkaloids
> A guide to the key chemical compounds in kratom and how they
> produce different effects.
## Overview
Kratom (Mitragyna speciosa) contains over 40 distinct alkaloids.
These naturally occurring compounds are responsible for everything
kratom does — its effects, potency, and strain differences all
come down to alkaloid composition.
## The Two Primary Alkaloids
### Mitragynine
- The most abundant alkaloid in kratom leaves
- Typically makes up 60–66% of total alkaloid content
- Responsible for most of kratom's stimulating effects at
lower doses
- Acts on opioid receptors but with a different mechanism
than classical opioids
- Also has adrenergic receptor activity explaining energy effects
### 7-Hydroxymitragynine (7-OH)
- A minor alkaloid by volume but extremely potent
- Typically only 2% of total alkaloid content
- Estimated to be significantly more potent than mitragynine
- More associated with pain relief and sedation
- More prominent in red vein strains and aged leaves
## Other Notable Alkaloids
- **Speciogynine** — second most abundant, contributes to
muscle relaxation
- **Paynantheine** — smooth muscle relaxant properties
- **Speciociliatine** — weaker opioid receptor activity,
may modulate other alkaloids
- **Corynantheidine** — may act as an opioid antagonist,
potentially balancing other effects
- **Mitraphylline** — has been studied for immune system
and anti-inflammatory properties
- **Rhynchophylline** — potential cardiovascular and
anti-inflammatory effects
## How Alkaloid Profiles Differ by Strain
Different vein colours and growing regions produce different
alkaloid ratios:
- **Red vein** — higher 7-OH content, more sedating and
pain-relieving
- **White vein** — higher mitragynine ratio, more stimulating
and energising
- **Green vein** — balanced profile, moderate effects across
the board
## Why Alkaloid Content Matters When Buying
Because kratom is unregulated in Canada, alkaloid content varies
dramatically between suppliers. Low-quality products may have:
- Degraded alkaloids from poor storage or old stock
- Inconsistent mitragynine percentages batch to batch
- Undisclosed additives or adulterants
365 Kratom Canada provides third-party lab certificates showing
exact mitragynine percentage for every batch so you always know
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