Darshan Singh1, Christian P Müller2, Vikneswaran Murugaiyah3, Shahrul Bariyah Sahul Hamid4, Balasingam K Vicknasingam5, Bonnie Avery6, Nelson Jeng Yeou Chear5, Sharif Mahsufi Mansor5. 1. Centre for Drug Research, Universiti Sains Malaysia, 11800 Minden, Penang, Malaysia. Electronic address: darshan@usm.my. 2. Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Clinic, Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-Nuremberg, Schwabachanlage 6, 91054 Erlangen, Germany. 3. School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, 11800 Minden, Penang, Malaysia. 4. Advanced Medical and Dental Institute, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Bertam, 13200 Kepala Batas, Penang, Malaysia. 5. Centre for Drug Research, Universiti Sains Malaysia, 11800 Minden, Penang, Malaysia. 6. College of Pharmacy, University of Florida, Gainesville 32610, United States.
Abstract
ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Kratom (Mitragyna speciosa Korth.) from the Rubiaceae family is an indigenous tropical medicinal tree of Southeast Asia. Kratom leaves have been used for decades in Malaysia and Thailand in traditional context for its perceived vast medicinal value, and as a mild stimulant among manual labourers. Kratom consumption has been reported to cause side-effects in kratom users. AIM OF THE STUDY: To evaluate kratom's effects towards hematological and clinical-chemistry parameters among regular kratom users in Malaysia. METHODS: A total of 77 subjects (n=58 regular kratom users, and n=19 healthy controls) participated in this cross-sectional study. All the surveys were conducted through face-to-face interview to elicit subject's socio-demographic characteristics and kratom use history. A full-blood test was also administered. Laboratory analysis was conducted using GC-MS to determine mitragynine content in the acquired kratom samples in order to relate mitragynine consumption with possible alterations in the blood parameters of kratom users. RESULTS: Findings showed that there were no significant differences in the hematological and clinical-chemistry parameters of traditional kratom users and healthy controls, except for HDL and LDL cholesterol values; these were found to be above the normal reference range for the former. Similarly, long-term kratom consumption (>5 years), and quantity of daily kratom use (≥3 ½ glasses; mitragynine content 76.3-114.8mg) did not appear to alter the hematological and biochemical parameters of kratom users. CONCLUSION: These data suggest that even long-term and heavy kratom consumption did not significantly alter the hematological and clinical-chemistry parameters of kratom users in a traditional setting.
ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Kratom (Mitragyna speciosa Korth.) from the Rubiaceae family is an indigenous tropical medicinal tree of Southeast Asia. Kratom leaves have been used for decades in Malaysia and Thailand in traditional context for its perceived vast medicinal value, and as a mild stimulant among manual labourers. Kratom consumption has been reported to cause side-effects in kratom users. AIM OF THE STUDY: To evaluate kratom's effects towards hematological and clinical-chemistry parameters among regular kratom users in Malaysia. METHODS: A total of 77 subjects (n=58 regular kratom users, and n=19 healthy controls) participated in this cross-sectional study. All the surveys were conducted through face-to-face interview to elicit subject's socio-demographic characteristics and kratom use history. A full-blood test was also administered. Laboratory analysis was conducted using GC-MS to determine mitragynine content in the acquired kratom samples in order to relate mitragynine consumption with possible alterations in the blood parameters of kratom users. RESULTS: Findings showed that there were no significant differences in the hematological and clinical-chemistry parameters of traditional kratom users and healthy controls, except for HDL and LDL cholesterol values; these were found to be above the normal reference range for the former. Similarly, long-term kratom consumption (>5 years), and quantity of daily kratom use (≥3 ½ glasses; mitragynine content 76.3-114.8mg) did not appear to alter the hematological and biochemical parameters of kratom users. CONCLUSION: These data suggest that even long-term and heavy kratom consumption did not significantly alter the hematological and clinical-chemistry parameters of kratom users in a traditional setting.
Authors: Rhiannon Bath; Tanner Bucholz; Amy F Buros; Darshan Singh; Kirsten E Smith; Charles A Veltri; Oliver Grundmann Journal: J Addict Med Date: 2020 May/Jun Impact factor: 4.647
Authors: Mohammad Farris Iman Leong Bin Abdullah; Kok Leng Tan; Salbiah Mohd Isa; Nur Sabrina Yusoff; Nelson Jeng Yeou Chear; Darshan Singh Journal: PLoS One Date: 2020-06-11 Impact factor: 3.240
Authors: Elisabeth Prevete; Kim Paula Colette Kuypers; Eef Lien Theunissen; Ornella Corazza; Giuseppe Bersani; Johannes Gerardus Ramaekers Journal: Hum Psychopharmacol Date: 2021-07-26 Impact factor: 2.130