Expanded 2-paragraph summary at 6th grade reading level:
This study looked at how certain chemicals found in kratom plants affect serotonin receptors in the body. Serotonin receptors are like little docks where serotonin, a chemical in the brain, can attach. The researchers tested different kratom chemicals, called alkaloids, to see how they interact with these serotonin receptors.
The researchers found that two kratom alkaloids, called speciogynine and paynantheine, had a strong attraction to two types of serotonin receptors. These alkaloids were able to attach to the receptors and change how they work. The researchers also found that the breakdown products of these alkaloids had an even stronger effect on the serotonin receptors. This suggests that when the body breaks down these kratom chemicals, it may create compounds that are more powerful than the original chemicals.
This study was done in a lab, not in the real world. The researchers used cells in the lab to test how the kratom alkaloids interacted with the serotonin receptors. They also did some tests on rats to see how the kratom chemicals affected the rats’ behavior.
Key takeaways:
- Speciogynine and paynantheine, two chemicals found in kratom, strongly interact with serotonin receptors in the body.
- The breakdown products of these kratom chemicals may have an even stronger effect on serotonin receptors.
- This study was done in a lab, not in the real world, and used cells and rats to test the effects of the kratom chemicals.
- The findings suggest that the effects of kratom may be partly due to its influence on serotonin receptors in the body
For further reading:
Link: https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acs.jmedchem.1c00726
Full Citation:
Len, F., Obeng, S., Mottinelli, M., Chen, Y., King, T. I., Berthold, E. C., Kamble, S. H., Restrepo, L. F., Patel, A., Gamez-Jimenez, L. R., Lopera-Londoo, C., Hiranita, T., Sharma, A., Hampson, A. J., Canal, C. E., McMahon, L. R., & McCurdy, C. R. (2021). Activity of Mitragyna speciosa (Kratom) Alkaloids at Serotonin Receptors. Journal of Medicinal Chemistry, 64(18), 13510-
13523 https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acs.jmedchem.1c00726
