Identification and Characterization of Mitragynine or 7-Hydroxymitraynine Oral Dosage Form Products That Appeal to...

Kratom is the pulverized dried leaves of the Mitragyna speciosa tree and has a bitter taste and high ingestion volume that repels children. Newer products use a single alkaloid extract from the leaves, mitragynine, or oxidize mitragynine to 7-hydroxymitragynine and place it in various oral dosage forms. We identified oral dosage form products containing mitragynine and/or 7-hydroxymitragynine that are marketed in ways that appeal to children and define their alluring characteristics.

We performed Google searches to identify websites selling kratom products. Products were assessed and included if they had 1 or more features that would be attractive to children and defined their formulations, alkaloids, flavoring/scents, mascots, and packaging.

Eighty unique products that appealed to children were found, and 36.3% were gummies, 28.8% were tablets, 18.8% were drink mixes or liquids, 15.0% were miscellaneous candies (saltwater taffies, ice cream cones, noobs, popping crystals, honey sticks, mints, lollipops), and 1.3% were chocolates. Thirty-eight products (47.5%) contained mitragynine, 35 products (43.8%) contained 7-hydroxymitragynine, 6 products (7.5%) contained both, and 1 product (1.3%) did not specify which alkaloid was included. Twenty-six products (32.5%) had a cartoon mascot or symbol. Sixty-six products (82.5%) had brightly colored packaging, 59 products (73.8%) had brightly colored formulations, and 73 formulations (91.3%) had a flavor or scent.

Mitragynine and 7-hydroxymitragynine are present in many products that could cause small children and teens to be exposed.