Kratom is a plant that grows in Southeast Asia. It has been used for centuries as a medicine and stimulant. Kratom contains chemicals called alkaloids that can affect how the body works. Some of these alkaloids may have good effects, like helping with pain or opioid withdrawal. But others may have bad effects, like causing addiction.

This study looked at the full genetic code, or genome, of the kratom plant. The researchers found that kratom has 44 chromosomes, making it a type of tetraploid plant. This means it has extra copies of its genes. The researchers also found genes that may be involved in making the different alkaloids in kratom. Having the full genome of kratom will help researchers better understand how it works and find new medicines from it.

Key takeaways:

• Kratom is a tetraploid plant, meaning it has extra copies of its genes.
• The kratom genome was sequenced and assembled, providing a resource for future research.
• Genes potentially involved in alkaloid biosynthesis were identified.
• This study was a lab-based genomic analysis, not an animal or human study.

For further reading:

Link: https://academic.oup.com/g3journal/article/11/4/jkab058/6156838?login=false

Full Citation:

Brose, J., Lau, K.H., Dang, T.T.T., Hamilton, J.P., do Vale Martins, L., Hamberger, B., Jiang, J., O’Connor, S.E., & Buell, C.R. (2021). The Mitragyna speciosa (Kratom) Genome: a resource for data-mining potent pharmaceuticals that impact human health. G3: Genes, Genomes, Genetics, 11(4), jkab058.