Kratom alkaloids as probes for opioid receptor function: Pharmacological characterization of minor indole and oxindole alkaloids from kratom Journal Article


Authors: Chakraborty, S.; Uprety, R.; Daibani, A. E.; Rouzic, V. L.; Hunkele, A.; Appourchaux, K.; Eans, S. O.; Nuthikattu, N.; Jilakara, R.; Thammavong, L.; Pasternak, G. W.; Pan, Y. X.; McLaughlin, J. P.; Che, T.; Majumdar, S.
Article Title: Kratom alkaloids as probes for opioid receptor function: Pharmacological characterization of minor indole and oxindole alkaloids from kratom
Abstract: Dry leaves of kratom (mitragyna speciosa) are anecdotally consumed as pain relievers and antidotes against opioid withdrawal and alcohol use disorders. There are at least 54 alkaloids in kratom; however, investigations to date have focused around mitragynine, 7-hydroxy mitragynine (7OH), and mitragynine pseudoindoxyl (MP). Herein, we probe a few minor indole and oxindole based alkaloids, reporting the receptor affinity, G-protein activity, and βarrestin-2 signaling of corynantheidine, corynoxine, corynoxine B, mitraciliatine, and isopaynantheine at mouse and human opioid receptors. We identify corynantheidine as a mu opioid receptor (MOR) partial agonist, whereas its oxindole derivative corynoxine was an MOR full agonist. Similarly, another alkaloid mitraciliatine was found to be an MOR partial agonist, while isopaynantheine was a KOR agonist which showed reduced βarrestin-2 recruitment. Corynantheidine, corynoxine, and mitraciliatine showed MOR dependent antinociception in mice, but mitraciliatine and corynoxine displayed attenuated respiratory depression and hyperlocomotion compared to the prototypic MOR agonist morphine in vivo when administered supraspinally. Isopaynantheine on the other hand was identified as the first kratom derived KOR agonist in vivo. While these minor alkaloids are unlikely to play the majority role in the biological actions of kratom, they represent excellent starting points for further diversification as well as distinct efficacy and signaling profiles with which to probe opioid actions in vivo. © 2021 American Chemical Society. All rights reserved.
Keywords: respiration; partial agonism; oxindoles; kratom; corynoxine; mitraciliatine
Journal Title: ACS Chemical Neuroscience
Volume: 12
Issue: 14
ISSN: 1948-7193
Publisher: American Chemical Society  
Date Published: 2021-07-21
Start Page: 2661
End Page: 2678
Language: English
DOI: 10.1021/acschemneuro.1c00149
PUBMED: 34213886
PROVIDER: scopus
PMCID: PMC8328003
DOI/URL:
Notes: Article -- Export Date: 1 September 2021 -- Source: Scopus
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  1. Yingxian Pan
    132 Pan
  2. Gavril W Pasternak
    414 Pasternak
  3. Amanda Joy Hunkele
    17 Hunkele
  4. Rajendra Uprety
    16 Uprety