Formulation and Delivery of Mitragynine: A Mini Review

Mitragynine is the most abundant psychoactive indole alkaloid found in the leaves of Mitragyna speciosa, which is commonly known as “Kratom”, and is distributed widely in Indonesia, Malaysia, Papua New Guinea, the Philippines, and Thailand. The leaves of M. speciosa are prepared for oral consumption and typically involve dried leaves that are brewed into tea or ground and placed into capsules. Additionally, M. speciosa is also used as a leaf poultice to treat fever, diarrhoea and for wound healing. In addition to peroral delivery, mitragynine could also be delivered through nasal and transdermal routes. The application of nanotechnology has been found to enhance the delivery of mitragynine and thus to enhance its therapeutic efficacy. This mini review, for the first time, presents a critical appraisal of the available literature on the formulation and delivery of mitragynine.