Simultaneous quantification of ten key Kratom alkaloids in Mitragyna speciosa leaf extracts and commercial products by ultra-performance liquid chromatography−tandem mass spectrometry
Abhisheak Sharma
Department of Pharmaceutics, College of Pharmacy, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
Search for more papers by this authorShyam H. Kamble
Department of Pharmaceutics, College of Pharmacy, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
Search for more papers by this authorFrancisco León
Department of Medicinal Chemistry, College of Pharmacy, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
Search for more papers by this authorNelson J.-Y. Chear
Centre for Drug Research, Universiti Sains Malaysia, 11800 Minden, Penang, Malaysia
Search for more papers by this authorTamara I. King
Department of Pharmaceutics, College of Pharmacy, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
Search for more papers by this authorErin C. Berthold
Department of Pharmaceutics, College of Pharmacy, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
Search for more papers by this authorSurash Ramanathan
Centre for Drug Research, Universiti Sains Malaysia, 11800 Minden, Penang, Malaysia
Search for more papers by this authorCorresponding Author
Christopher R. McCurdy
Department of Medicinal Chemistry, College of Pharmacy, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
Correspondence
Dr Bonnie A. Avery, Department of Pharmaceutics, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, 32610, USA. Email: [email protected];
Dr Christopher R. McCurdy, Department of Medicinal Chemistry, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA.
Email: [email protected]
Search for more papers by this authorCorresponding Author
Bonnie A. Avery
Department of Pharmaceutics, College of Pharmacy, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
Correspondence
Dr Bonnie A. Avery, Department of Pharmaceutics, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, 32610, USA. Email: [email protected];
Dr Christopher R. McCurdy, Department of Medicinal Chemistry, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA.
Email: [email protected]
Search for more papers by this authorAbhisheak Sharma
Department of Pharmaceutics, College of Pharmacy, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
Search for more papers by this authorShyam H. Kamble
Department of Pharmaceutics, College of Pharmacy, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
Search for more papers by this authorFrancisco León
Department of Medicinal Chemistry, College of Pharmacy, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
Search for more papers by this authorNelson J.-Y. Chear
Centre for Drug Research, Universiti Sains Malaysia, 11800 Minden, Penang, Malaysia
Search for more papers by this authorTamara I. King
Department of Pharmaceutics, College of Pharmacy, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
Search for more papers by this authorErin C. Berthold
Department of Pharmaceutics, College of Pharmacy, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
Search for more papers by this authorSurash Ramanathan
Centre for Drug Research, Universiti Sains Malaysia, 11800 Minden, Penang, Malaysia
Search for more papers by this authorCorresponding Author
Christopher R. McCurdy
Department of Medicinal Chemistry, College of Pharmacy, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
Correspondence
Dr Bonnie A. Avery, Department of Pharmaceutics, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, 32610, USA. Email: [email protected];
Dr Christopher R. McCurdy, Department of Medicinal Chemistry, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA.
Email: [email protected]
Search for more papers by this authorCorresponding Author
Bonnie A. Avery
Department of Pharmaceutics, College of Pharmacy, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
Correspondence
Dr Bonnie A. Avery, Department of Pharmaceutics, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, 32610, USA. Email: [email protected];
Dr Christopher R. McCurdy, Department of Medicinal Chemistry, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA.
Email: [email protected]
Search for more papers by this authorAbstract
Kratom (Mitragyna speciosa) is a psychoactive plant popular in the United States for the self-treatment of pain and opioid addiction. For standardization and quality control of raw and commercial kratom products, an ultra-performance liquid chromatography−tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC−MS/MS) method was developed and validated for the quantification of ten key alkaloids, namely: corynantheidine, corynoxine, corynoxine B, 7-hydroxymitragynine, isocorynantheidine, mitragynine, mitraphylline, paynantheine, speciociliatine, and speciogynine. Chromatographic separation of diastereomers, or alkaloids sharing same ion transitions, was achieved on an Acquity BEH C18 column with a gradient elution using a mobile phase containing acetonitrile and aqueous ammonium acetate buffer (10mM, pH 3.5). The developed method was linear over a concentration range of 1–200 ng/mL for each alkaloid. The total analysis time per sample was 22.5 minutes. The analytical method was validated for accuracy, precision, robustness, and stability. After successful validation, the method was applied for the quantification of kratom alkaloids in alkaloid-rich fractions, ethanolic extracts, lyophilized teas, and commercial products. Mitragynine (0.7%–38.7% w/w), paynantheine (0.3%–12.8% w/w), speciociliatine (0.4%–12.3% w/w), and speciogynine (0.1%–5.3% w/w) were the major alkaloids in the analyzed kratom products/extracts. Minor kratom alkaloids (corynantheidine, corynoxine, corynoxine B, 7-hydroxymitragynine, isocorynantheidine) were also quantified (0.01%–2.8% w/w) in the analyzed products; however mitraphylline was below the lower limit of quantification in all analyses.
CONFLICT OF INTEREST
The authors declare no conflict of interest.
Supporting Information
Filename | Description |
---|---|
dta2604-supp-0001-Figures_S1-S36.docxWord 2007 document , 8.5 MB |
Figure S1. 1H NMR spectrum of corynantheidine in DMSO-d6, 600 MHz Figure S2. 13C NMR spectrum of corynantheidine in DMSO-d6, 150 MHz Figure S3. 1H NMR spectrum of corynoxine in CD3OD, 600 MHz Figure S4. 13C NMR spectrum of corynoxine in CD3OD, 150 MHz Figure S5. 1H NMR spectrum of corynoxine B in CDCl3, 500 MHz Figure S6. 13C NMR spectrum of corynoxine B in CDCl3, 125 MHz Figure S7. 1H NMR spectrum of 7-hydroxy mitragynine in CDCl3, 500 MHz Figure S8. 13C NMR spectrum of 7-hydroxy mitragynine in CDCl3, 125 MHz Figure S9. 1H NMR spectrum of isocorynantheidine in CDCl3, 500 MHz Figure S10. 13C NMR spectrum of isocorynantheidine in CDCl3, 125 MHz Figure S11. 1H NMR spectrum mitragynine in CDCl3, 500 MHz Figure S12. 13C NMR spectrum of mitragynine in CDCl3, 125 MHz Figure S13. 1H NMR spectrum of mitragynine hydrochloride salt in CD3OD, 600 MHz Figure S14. 13C NMR spectrum of mitragynine hydrochloride salt in CD3OD, 150 MHz Figure S15. 1H NMR spectrum mitraphylline in CDCl3, 500 MHz Figure S16. 13C NMR spectrum of mitraphylline in CDCl3, 125 MHz Figure S17. 1H NMR spectrum of paynantheine in CD3OD, 600 MHz Figure S18. 13C NMR spectrum of paynantheine in CD3OD, 150 MHz Figure S19. 1H NMR spectrum speciociliatine in CDCl3, 500 MHz Figure S20. 13C NMR spectrum of speciociliatine in CDCl3, 125 MHz Figure S21. 1H NMR spectrum speciogynine in CDCl3, 500 MHz Figure S22. 13C NMR spectrum of speciogynine in CDCl3, 125 MHz Figure S23. Base peak chromatogram and corresponding MS spectrum of corynantheidine using UPLC-Q-TOF Figure S24. Base peak chromatogram and corresponding MS spectrum of corynoxine using UPLC-Q-TOF Figure S25. Base peak chromatogram and corresponding MS spectrum of corynoxine using UPLC-Q-TOF Figure S26. Base peak chromatogram and corresponding MS spectrum of 7-hydroxymitragynine using UPLC-Q-TOF, Water adduct of 7-hydroxymitragynine) Figure S27. Base peak chromatogram and corresponding MS spectrum of isocorynantheidine using UPLC-Q-TOF Figure S28. Base peak chromatogram and corresponding MS spectrum of mitragynine using UPLC-Q-TOF Figure S29. Base peak chromatogram and corresponding MS spectrum of mitraphylline using UPLC-Q-TOF Figure S30. Base peak chromatogram and corresponding MS spectrum of paynantheine using UPLC-Q-TOF Figure S31. Base peak chromatogram and corresponding MS spectrum of speciogynine using UPLC-Q-TOF Figure S32. Base peak chromatogram and corresponding MS spectrum of speciogynine using UPLC-Q-TOF Figure S33. Product ion spectra (MS/MS) of (A) corynantheidine, (B) corynoxine, (C) corynoxine B, (D) 7-hydroxymitragynine, (E) isocorynantheidine, (F) mitragynine, (G) mitraphylline, (H) paynantheine, (I) speciociliatine, and (J) speciogynine Figure S34. Representative calibration curves for corynantheidine, corynoxine, corynoxine B, 7-hydroxymitragynine, isocorynantheidine, mitragynine, mitraphylline, paynantheine, speciociliatine, and speciogynine Figure S35. Chromatograms of (1A) corynantheidine, (1B) corynoxine, (1C) corynoxine B, (1D) 7-hydroxymitragynine, (1E) isocorynantheidine, (1F) mitragynine, (1G) mitraphylline, (1H) paynantheine, (1I) speciociliatine, (1 J) speciogynine and (1 K) internal standard during the analysis of ethanolic extract of kratom Figure S36. Chromatograms of (1A) corynantheidine, (1B) corynoxine, (1C) corynoxine B, (1D) 7-hydroxymitragynine, (1E) isocorynantheidine, (1F) mitragynine, (1G) mitraphylline, (1H) paynantheine, (1I) speciociliatine, (1 J) speciogynine and (1 K) internal standard during the analysis of alkaloid fraction of kratom |
Please note: The publisher is not responsible for the content or functionality of any supporting information supplied by the authors. Any queries (other than missing content) should be directed to the corresponding author for the article.
REFERENCES
- 1Warner ML, Kaufman NC, Grundmann O. The pharmacology and toxicology of kratom: from traditional herb to drug of abuse. Int J Leg Med. 2016; 130(1): 127-138.
- 2Jansen KL, Prast CJ. Ethnopharmacology of kratom and the Mitragyna alkaloids. J Ethnopharmacol. 1988; 23(1): 115-119.
- 3Lydecker AG, Sharma A, McCurdy CR, Avery BA, Babu KM, Boyer EW. Suspected adulteration of commercial kratom products with 7-hydroxymitragynine. J Med Toxicol. 2016; 12(4): 341-349.
- 4Boyer EW, Babu KM, Adkins JE, McCurdy CR, Halpern JH. Self-treatment of opioid withdrawal using kratom (Mitragynia speciosa korth). Addiction. 2008; 103(6): 1048-1050.
- 5 Food and Drug Administration (2016) Import Alert 54–15.
- 6Arndt T, Claussen U, Güssregen B, et al. Kratom alkaloids and O-desmethyltramadol in urine of a “krypton” herbal mixture consumer. Forensic Sci Int. 2011; 208(1-3): 47-52.
- 7Mudge EM, Brown PN. Determination of Mitragynine in Mitragyna speciosa raw materials and finished products by liquid chromatography with UV detection: single-laboratory validation. J AOAC Int. 2017; 100(1): 18-24.
- 8Scott TM, Yeakel JK, Logan BK. Identification of mitragynine and O-desmethyltramadol in Kratom and legal high products sold online. Drug Test Anal. 2014; 6(9): 959-963.
- 9Kikura-Hanajiri R, Kawamura M, Maruyama T, Kitajima M, Takayama H, Goda Y. Simultaneous analysis of mitragynine, 7-hydroxymitragynine, and other alkaloids in the psychotropic plant “kratom” (Mitragyna speciosa) by LC-ESI-MS. Forensic Toxicol. 2009; 27(2): 67-74.
- 10Kong WM, Mohamed Z, Alshawsh MA, Chik Z. Evaluation of pharmacokinetics and blood-brain barrier permeability of mitragynine using in vivo microdialysis technique. J Pharm Biomedical Anal. 2017; 143: 43-47.
- 11Guddat S, Görgens C, Steinhart V, Schänzer W, Thevis M. Mitragynine (Kratom)-monitoring in sports drug testing. Drug Test Anal. 2016; 8(11-12): 1114-1118.
- 12Vuppala PK, Boddu SP, Furr EB, McCurdy CR, Avery BA. Simple, sensitive, high-throughput method for the quantification of mitragynine in rat plasma using UPLC-MS and its application to an intravenous pharmacokinetic study. Chromatographia. 2011; 74(9-10): 703-710.
- 13Parthasarathy S, Ramanathan S, Ismail S, Adenan MI, Mansor SM, Murugaiyah V. Determination of mitragynine in plasma with solid-phase extraction and rapid HPLC–UV analysis, and its application to a pharmacokinetic study in rat. Anal Bioanal Chem. 2010; 397(5): 2023-2030.
- 14de Moraes NV, Moretti RAC, Furr EB III, McCurdy CR, Lanchote VL. Determination of mitragynine in rat plasma by LC–MS/MS: application to pharmacokinetics. J Chrom B. 2009; 877(24): 2593-2597.
- 15Váradi A, Marrone GF, Palmer TC, et al. Mitragynine/Corynantheidine Pseudoindoxyls as opioid analgesics with mu Agonism and Delta antagonism, which do not recruit β-Arrestin-2. J Med Chem. 2016; 59(18): 8381-8397.
- 16Hemby SE, McIntosh S, Leon F, Cutler SJ, McCurdy CR. Abuse liability and therapeutic potential of the Mitragyna speciosa (kratom) alkaloids mitragynine and 7-hydroxymitragynine. Addiction Biol. 2018; xx. https://doi.org/10.1111/adb.12639
- 17Yue K, Kopajtic TA, Katz JL. Abuse liability of mitragynine assessed with a self-administration procedure in rats. Psychopharmacol. 2018; xx: 1-7.
- 18Takayama H, Ishikawa H, Kurihara M, et al. Studies on the synthesis and opioid agonistic activities of mitragynine-related indole alkaloids: discovery of opioid agonists structurally different from other opioid ligands. J Med Chem. 2002; 45(9): 1949-1956.
- 19Rackur G, Stahl M, Walkowiak M, Winterfeldt E. Reaktionen an Indolderivaten, XXX die stereoselektive und stereospezifische Totalsynthese der Geissoschizin-Isomeren. Chem Ber. 1976; 109(12): 3817-3824.
- 20Takayama H. Chemistry and pharmacology of analgesic indole alkaloids from the rubiaceous plant, Mitragyna speciosa. Chem Pharm Bull. 2004; 52(8): 916-928.
- 21Avery BA, Boddu SP, Sharma A, et al. Comparative pharmacokinetics of Mitragynine after oral administration of Mitragyna speciosa (Kratom) leaf extracts in rats. Planta Med. 2018; 85(04): 340-346. https://doi.org/10.1055/a-0770-3683
- 22Kitajima M, Misawa K, Kogure N, et al. A new indole alkaloid, 7-hydroxyspeciociliatine, from the fruits of Malaysian Mitragyna speciosa and its opioid agonistic activity. J Natural Med. 2006; 60(1): 28-35.
- 23Ponglux D, Wongseripipatana S, Takayama H, et al. A new indole alkaloid, 7 α-hydroxy-7H-mitragynine, from Mitragyna speciosa in Thailand. Planta Med. 1994; 60(06): 580-581.
- 24 Food and Drug Administration. Analytical procedures and methods validation for drugs and biologics–guidance for industry (2015). https://www.fda.gov/downloads/Drugs/GuidanceComplianceRegulatoryInformation/Guidances/UCM386366.pdf. Accessed December 19, 2018.
- 25Ali Z, Demiray H, Khan IA. Isolation, characterization, and NMR spectroscopic data of indole and oxindole alkaloids from Mitragyna speciosa. Tetrahedron Lett. 2014; 55(2): 369-372.
- 26Hassan Z, Muzaimi M, Navaratnam V, et al. From Kratom to mitragynine and its derivatives: physiological and behavioural effects related to use, abuse, and addiction. Neurosci Biobehav Rev. 2013; 37(2): 138-151.
- 27Chrostowski L. Report of diagnosis and autopsy of Christopher Waldron. Medical Examiner Department. Hillsborough County, FL, USA [22 August 2017]
- 28Babin J. Analysis of two deaths reportedly associated with kratom. http://speciosa.org/analysis-of-two-deaths-reportedly-associated-with-kratom/. Accessed December 7, 2018.
- 29Kamble SH, Sharma A, King T, Leon F, McCurdy CR, Avery BA. Metabolite profiling and identification of enzymes responsible for the metabolism of mitragynine, the major alkaloid of Mitragyna speciosa (kratom). Xenobiotica. 2018; xx: 1-10. https://doi.org/10.1080/00498254.2018.1552819
10.1080/00498254.2018.1552819 Google Scholar
- 30Trakulsrichai S, Sathirakul K, Auparakkitanon S, et al. Pharmacokinetics of mitragynine in man. Drug des Devel Ther. 2015; 9: 2421.