This study looked at how three chemicals found in the kratom plant (mitragynine, 7-hydroxymitragynine, and mitragynine pseudoindoxyl) interact with a specific receptor in the body called the μ-opioid receptor. This receptor is important for pain relief. The researchers used computer models to predict how these kratom chemicals bind to and affect the μ-opioid receptor.

The results showed that the three kratom chemicals can bind to the μ-opioid receptor and affect how it works. This may help explain why some people find kratom helpful for pain relief, although more research is still needed. The researchers also identified some specific parts of the μ-opioid receptor that seem to be important for how the kratom chemicals interact with it.

This was a lab-based study that used computer models and lab experiments, not real-world studies. The experiments were done on the μ-opioid receptor, not on animals or humans.

Key takeaways are:

• The study used computer models and lab experiments to look at how three kratom chemicals interact with the μ-opioid receptor.
• The results suggest these kratom chemicals can bind to and affect the activity of the μ-opioid receptor, which is important for pain relief.
• The study identified specific parts of the μ-opioid receptor that seem to be important for how the kratom chemicals interact with it.

For further reading:

The article is available on the National Institutes of Health’s PubMed Central website: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33970708/

Full Citation:

Zhou, Y., Ramsey, S., Provasi, D., El Daibani, A., Appourchaux, K., Chakraborty, S., … & Filizola, M. (2021). Predicted Mode of Binding to and Allosteric Modulation of the -Opioid Receptor by Kratoms Alkaloids with Reported Antinociception in Vivo. Biochemistry, 60(18), 1420-1429.