Every kratom conversation eventually comes back to two names: mitragynine and 7-hydroxymitragynine. Here is how the two alkaloids compare, and why the second one dominates the extract market.
The quick version
Mitragynine is the most abundant alkaloid in kratom leaf — typically the majority of the total alkaloid content. 7-OH is present in far smaller amounts in raw leaf, but lab and model studies consistently show it binds opioid receptors with substantially higher affinity. In the extract industry, that single fact drives everything: 7-OH is the alkaloid you concentrate when you want maximum potency per milligram.
Why extract companies isolate 7-OH
Because potency per milligram is the metric that matters for dosing. A product standardized on mitragynine gives you the “classic” profile at lower strength per mg; a product standardized on 7-OH delivers a far stronger effect at a smaller dose, with the result that a tablet the size of a penny can equal a scoop of concentrated leaf. That concentration is why 7-OH products come in 10mg-to-125mg per-tablet formats rather than the grams-per-serving world of leaf. See our beginner’s guide for the full background.
What it means for you as a buyer
- Labeling: a legitimate 7-OH product states the 7-OH milligrams per unit and shows batch testing. A product that is vague about which alkaloid — and how much — is selling leaf, not extract.
- Dosing: 7-OH products use milligram fractions (quarters of tablets); mitragynine-focused products use grams. Never convert between the two intuitively.
- Onset: chewed 7-OH typically works in 15–45 minutes; other formats vary. Full timeline in onset & duration.
Which one is “better”?
They serve different purposes. Mitragynine-forward products are milder per milligram and closer to the traditional leaf experience. 7-OH-forward products are for people who specifically want high potency with precise dosing — which is what this store sells, and what the 300mg 30-count and 1000mg formats are built for. If you are choosing your first product, the strength chooser is the right next read.