How to Read an Alkaloid Panel
You’ve got a COA in front of you. The alkaloid panel section shows percentages for compounds you may or may not recognize. Here’s what you’re looking at and what the numbers actually mean.
The Two Main Alkaloids
Mitragynine (MIT) is the most abundant alkaloid in kratom leaf. Most commercial kratom powder tests between 1.0% and 1.8% mitragynine by weight. Higher isn’t automatically “better”, it’s one data point among many. But it’s the number the community pays the most attention to, and for good reason: it’s the primary active compound.
7-Hydroxymitragynine (7-OH) is present in much smaller concentrations, typically 0.01% to 0.04% in raw leaf powder. It’s significantly more potent by weight than mitragynine. Some extract products concentrate this compound, which is why extracts and raw powder are fundamentally different products.
Why Numbers Vary Batch to Batch
Kratom is a plant, not a pharmaceutical. Alkaloid content varies based on:
- Harvest timing, Leaf maturity affects alkaloid concentration
- Growing conditions, Soil, rainfall, and sun exposure all play a role
- Drying and processing, How the leaf is dried and ground changes the final profile
- Region of origin, Different growing regions produce different alkaloid ratios
This is exactly why batch-specific testing matters. A vendor who tested one batch six months ago has no idea what’s in the batch they’re shipping today. The plant changed. The numbers changed. The only honest move is to test again.
What to Look For
When you’re reading an alkaloid panel:
- MIT above 1.0% is standard for quality leaf powder
- The lot number on the report should match the lot number on your bag
- The test date should be recent relative to the pack date
- The lab should be named and verifiable
We publish every alkaloid panel for every batch we ship. No exceptions. If the numbers aren’t there, the batch doesn’t leave our facility.
