Mitragyna speciosa, a psychoactive tree from Southeast Asia with opioid activity

• Published in: Current topics in medicinal chemistry Vol. 11; no. 9; p. 1165
• Main Authors: Adkins, Jessica E, Boyer, Edward W, McCurdy, Christopher R
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United Arab Emirates 01.05.2011
• Subjects: Alkaloids - chemical synthesis; Alkaloids - pharmacology; Analgesics, Opioid - chemical synthesis; Analgesics, Opioid - pharmacology; Animals; Asia, Southeastern; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Guinea Pigs; Humans; Mice; Mitragyna - chemistry; Plant Extracts - pharmacology; Plant Leaves - chemistry; Rats; Receptors, Opioid - agonists; Receptors, Opioid - metabolism; Secologanin Tryptamine Alkaloids - chemical synthesis; Secologanin Tryptamine Alkaloids - pharmacology; Structure-Activity Relationship; United States; Asia, Southeastern; United States
• ISSN: 1873-4294
• DOI: 10.2174/156802611795371305

Mitragyna speciosa Korth. (Rubiaceae) is a tree that is commonly found in Southeast Asia. Leaves from this tree have been traditionally been used for both their stimulant properties as well as an opium substitute. The tree/leaves are currently illegal in four countries, but is currently legal and widely available in the United States. To date over 40 compounds have been isolated from the leaves. The major alkaloid found within the crude extract, mitragynine, has been the subject of many pharmacological studies. In addition to the pharmacological studies, two total syntheses of mitragynine have been published as well as general structure-activity relationships (SARs) with respect to opioid activity.