Evaluation of Commercially Available Smoke Shop Products Marketed as “7-Hydroxy Mitragynine” & Related Alkaloids

PURPOSE: The objective of this report is to detail our findings from forensic testing of “7-Hydroxy Mitragynine” marketed commercial products for notification to public health, public safety, clinicians, medical examiners, coroners, forensic laboratories, and other related communities regarding this emerging topic of concern.

SUMMARY: Due to increased sale and availability of Kratom products marketed as “7-hydroxy mitragynine”, our laboratory collected samples for comprehensive forensic drug analysis. Samples included one powder and several pressed pills, some of which were purchased legally from a local smoke shop. Pills were crushed and the powder was sampled for methanol dilution. Analysis was performed by gas chromatography mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and liquid chromatography quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (LC-QTOF-MS). Data processing included targeted, concurrent spectral identification of mitragynine, 7-hydroxy mitragynine, and mitragynine pseudoindoxyl, and suspect screening was performed for mitragynine isomers (e.g., speciogynine, speciociliatine, mitraciliatine) and additional Kratom alkaloids (e.g., paynantheine, ajmalicine, mitraphylline, corynantheidine). 7-Hydroxy mitragynine and mitragynine pseudoindoxyl were indistinguishable by GC-MS; therefore, analysis via LC-QTOF-MS was required for identification and differentiation.
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