Defining kratom: evidence-based policy guidelines for a rapidly evolving market
6 affiliations
- 1Planted in Science Consulting, LLC
- 2Natural Health & Food Products Research Group, Centre for Applied Research & Innovation, BC Institute of Technology
- 3Pharmacognosy Institute and Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Retzky College of Pharmacy, University of Illinois Chicago
- 4Department of Medicinal Chemistry, College of Pharmacy, University of Florida
- 5Department of Pharmaceutics, College of Pharmacy, University of Florida
- 6Centre for Drug Research, Universiti Sains Malaysia
Abstract
The leaves of Mitragyna speciosa, commonly called kratom, have been consumed for centuries in Southeast Asia for their energizing and analgesic properties. Over the last decade kratom has gained popularity in the United States, with an estimated 10–16 million consumers, and a wide variety of products have become available in the marketplace. Along with a plethora of product formulations that contain various concentrations of kratom alkaloids, new products have emerged, labelled as “kratom”, but comprised of highly concentrated synthetic alkaloids. Consumers and regulators alike struggle to differentiate the spectrum of products that range from those similar in composition to traditional kratom to those that are illegally marketed, unapproved novel drugs. With significant implications to public health policy and safety, there is a need to clearly define and differentiate kratom, kratom-derived, and synthetic products. Herein we offer guidance to support standardization of the terminology used in the manufacture and labelling of kratom and kratom-derived products in the United States. This is intended to be a reference tool for use by industry and federal, state, and other jurisdictions that oversee the kratom industry to encourage clear and consistent communication.
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BibTeX
@article{berthold2026defining,
title = {{Defining kratom: evidence-based policy guidelines for a rapidly evolving market}},
author = {Erin Berthold and Paula N. Brown and Michael Chan and Oliver Grundmann and Christopher R. McCurdy and Abhisheak Sharma and Darshan Singh},
journal = {Frontiers in Pharmacology},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.3389/fphar.2026.1925809},
url = {https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fphar.2026.1925809/full},
note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Defining kratom: evidence-based policy guidelines for a rapidly evolving market
AU - Erin Berthold
AU - Paula N. Brown
AU - Michael Chan
AU - Oliver Grundmann
AU - Christopher R. McCurdy
AU - Abhisheak Sharma
AU - Darshan Singh
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/22
JO - Frontiers in Pharmacology
DO - 10.3389/fphar.2026.1925809
UR - https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fphar.2026.1925809/full
AB - The leaves of Mitragyna speciosa, commonly called kratom, have been consumed for centuries in Southeast Asia for their energizing and analgesic properties. Over the last decade kratom has gained popularity in the United States, with an estimated 10–16 million consumers, and a wide variety of products have become available in the marketplace. Along with a plethora of product formulations that contain various concentrations of kratom alkaloids, new products have emerged, labelled as “kratom”, but comprised of highly concentrated synthetic alkaloids. Consumers and regulators alike struggle to differentiate the spectrum of products that range from those similar in composition to traditional kratom to those that are illegally marketed, unapproved novel drugs. With significant implications to public health policy and safety, there is a need to clearly define and differentiate kratom, kratom-derived, and synthetic products. Herein we offer guidance to support standardization of the terminology used in the manufacture and labelling of kratom and kratom-derived products in the United States. This is intended to be a reference tool for use by industry and federal, state, and other jurisdictions that oversee the kratom industry to encourage clear and consistent communication.
SN - 1663-9812
ER -