Glossary
Alkaloid
Updated:
A nitrogen-containing compound produced by a plant. Kratom lab reports quantify the leaf's alkaloids, chiefly mitragynine and 7-hydroxymitragynine; kava reports quantify kavalactones instead, which are not alkaloids. State caps are written either per alkaloid in milligrams or as a share of the total alkaloid fraction.
Alkaloids are the compounds a kratom potency report measures. The two named in every statute are mitragynine and 7-hydroxymitragynine; DEA's July 2026 notice described natural 7-hydroxymitragynine as "less than two percent of the total alkaloid content" of the plant (91 FR 40917). Fuller panels add paynantheine, speciogynine and speciociliatine.
Laws cap alkaloids in two ways. Georgia writes its caps in milligrams: more than 150 mg of mitragynine per serving, 0.5 mg of 7-hydroxymitragynine per gram or 1 mg per serving is prohibited (Georgia Department of Law). Eight states write theirs as a share: 7-hydroxymitragynine may not exceed 2 percent of the alkaloid fraction. A report that states each alkaloid in mg per gram and mg per serving lets both kinds of cap be checked.
Kavalactones, the measured constituents of kava, are not alkaloids; they are a separate class of compounds and are stated on kava labels in percent of root or milligrams per serving.
Sources
- 91 FR 40917, notice of intent (July 6, 2026) Federal Register via GovInfo (accessed 2026-10-20)
- Georgia Kratom Consumer Protection Act summary Georgia Department of Law (accessed 2026-10-20)