Silver Spring, MD—The board of the American Herbal Products Association has adopted a new guidance policy to clarify the distinction between products consisting of the botanical kratom and synthetic kratom alkaloids. AHPA guidance policies are developed to promote responsible commerce in herbal products, and AHPA encourages its members and non-member companies to adopt these policies to establish consistent and informed trade practices.
About kratom
As WholeFoods Magazine has reported, in 2024 AHPA published an entry for kratom (Mitragyna speciosa [Korth.] Havil.) in the online Botanical Safety Handbook 2nd ed. AHPA explained that the entry is based on the traditional use of kratom when consumed as fresh leaves or prepared as a tea, and not the highly concentrated kratom extract products that are also available on the market. The kratom entry is based on review of published literature that documents pharmacological and toxicological profile of the herb, clinical investigations, and case reports of adverse effects.
“Kratom has a long history of safe traditional use,” said Jane Wilson, AHPA Director of Program Development, when the new entry was announced. “But, as with any botanical, we encourage consumers to take safety information available in the Botanical Safety Handbook and from other reputable sources into consideration when using herbs to support their personal health and wellness.”
AHPA's Guidance Policy on Kratom and Synthesized Kratom Alkaloids
In the new guidance policy AHPA explained that kratom is the Standard Common Name for the deciduous tree Mitragyna speciosa, and is also used to refer to the leaves of the tree, which contain alkaloids, flavonoids, polyphenolic compounds, triterpenoids, triterpenoid saponins, monoterpenes and secoiroids. The primary alkaloid in leaf materials is often mitragynine.
AHPA explains: ..."Some 'kratom' products in the marketplace appear to consist primarily of 7-hydroxymitragynine (7-OH), and lack other alkaloids commonly found in plant-derived kratom products. While 7-OH may be formed from mitragynine oxidation and can be found in very low levels in dried, processed kratom leaf, it is not present at sufficiently high concentrations to be produced in commercially viable form."
AHPA's new policy on kratom "strongly discourages the marketing of any product intended for consumption by any route that consists of or contains synthesized 7-OH or other synthesized kratom alkaloids" and "strongly discourages labeling or marketing such products as 'kratom.'"
AHPA noted that its guidance policies are not a substitute for applicable statutes and regulations, and they should not be considered legal advice.
