Is 7-OH the same as kratom?

No. 7-OH is one of more than 40 alkaloids identified in Mitragyna speciosa (kratom). It is the active metabolite of the dominant alkaloid mitragynine. Whole-leaf kratom contains many alkaloids; isolated or concentrated 7-OH products contain primarily a single compound.

What is the half-life of 7-OH?

Reported half-life values for 7-OH come from animal-model pharmacokinetic studies and should be interpreted strictly in research context. Human pharmacokinetic data are limited. This page does not provide dosing guidance.

Why does the FDA scrutinize 7-OH specifically?

FDA's stated concern focuses on isolated and concentrated 7-OH products, which bypass the CYP3A4 rate-limiting step that gates 7-OH exposure from natural leaf material. The agency recommended Schedule I status to the DEA in July 2025 specifically for 7-OH; mitragynine itself was not the subject of that recommendation.

Does 7-OH show up on a standard drug test?

Standard immunoassay drug-test panels are not designed to detect 7-OH or other kratom alkaloids. Specialized LC-MS-based testing can identify 7-OH and mitragynine. Cross-reactivity with opioid immunoassays varies and has been characterized in published research.

What is biased agonism and why does it matter for 7-OH?

Biased agonism describes a ligand that preferentially activates one downstream receptor pathway over another. At the mu-opioid receptor, 7-OH preferentially activates G-protein signaling over β-arrestin recruitment in published assays. This signaling bias is one of the most active areas of opioid-pharmacology research and is reviewed on the dedicated Biased Agonism glossary page.

Alkaloids & Chemistry

7-Hydroxymitragynine (7-OH)

At-a-glance comparison

Spec	Value
Compound class	Indole alkaloid (oxidized analog of mitragynine)
Source	Trace alkaloid in Mitragyna speciosa leaf; in vivo metabolite of mitragynine via hepatic CYP3A4
Molecular formula	C23H30N2O5
Molar mass	414.50 g/mol
CAS Registry Number	174418-82-7
U.S. FDA status	Not approved for any medical use; multiple FDA warning letters issued to 7-OH product manufacturers
U.S. DEA status (May 2026)	Not federally scheduled. FDA recommended Schedule I in July 2025; final DEA action pending

What is 7-hydroxymitragynine?

7-Hydroxymitragynine is a hydroxylated analog of mitragynine, the principal alkaloid of Mitragyna speciosa (kratom). It is identified by its molecular formula C23H30N2O5 and molar mass 414.50 g/mol; the compound has CAS Registry Number 174418-82-7. The structural difference from mitragynine is the addition of a hydroxyl group at the 7-position of the indole ring system, which produces a substantially different receptor-pharmacology profile.

7-OH appears in two distinct contexts: as a trace constituent of the kratom leaf at very low natural abundance, and as an active metabolite generated in the liver when mitragynine is oxidized by the cytochrome P450 enzyme CYP3A4. The latter is the dominant in vivo source of 7-OH following oral kratom consumption.

Chemistry Overview

7-Hydroxymitragynine is a hydroxylated analog of mitragynine, the principal alkaloid of Mitragyna speciosa (kratom). Its molecular formula is C23H30N2O5 and its molar mass is 414.50 g/mol; the compound has CAS Registry Number 174418-82-7. The structural difference from mitragynine is the addition of a hydroxyl group at the 7-position of the indole ring system. 7-OH appears in two distinct contexts: as a trace constituent of the kratom leaf at very low natural abundance, and as a metabolic product generated in the liver when mitragynine is acted on by the cytochrome P450 enzyme CYP3A4.

Active metabolite of mitragynine

When mitragynine is consumed orally - for example as kratom leaf, powder, or extract - it undergoes first-pass metabolism in the liver, where CYP3A4 oxidizes a portion of the dose to 7-OH. Because 7-OH binds the mu-opioid receptor with substantially higher affinity than mitragynine, even a small fraction of conversion contributes meaningfully to the in vivo pharmacological profile of orally consumed kratom material. CYP3A4 inhibitors such as ketoconazole reduce 7-OH formation in research models, while CYP3A4 inducers may increase it.

This metabolite paradigm is one reason regulatory and scientific attention to 7-OH has intensified: products that isolate or concentrate 7-OH bypass the rate-limiting CYP3A4 conversion step and deliver substantially higher 7-OH exposure than is achievable from leaf material alone.

Regulatory status (educational summary; verify in your jurisdiction)

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has not approved 7-OH for any medical use. The agency has issued multiple warning letters to manufacturers marketing 7-OH-containing tablets, gummies, and other consumer products. In July 2025 the FDA formally recommended that the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration place 7-hydroxymitragynine in Schedule I of the Controlled Substances Act. As of May 2026, no final DEA action on that recommendation had been published.

Several U.S. states have already restricted or banned kratom and 7-OH products, with varying scope and effective dates. Verify the current legal status of 7-OH in your jurisdiction before any purchase. This summary is educational and does not constitute legal advice.

How 7-OH is detected and quantified in commercial products

7-OH content in commercial products is measured by reverse-phase HPLC with ultraviolet or mass-spectrometry detection. Confirmatory analysis is typically performed by LC-MS or LC-HRMS, where 7-OH gives an [M+H]+ ion at m/z 415 with characteristic fragmentation. A complete Certificate of Analysis (COA) reports 7-OH as a percent-assay value alongside mitragynine assay, microbial counts, heavy metals, and residual solvents.

Common questions about 7-hydroxymitragynine (7-oh)

Is 7-OH the same as kratom?: No. 7-OH is one of more than 40 alkaloids identified in Mitragyna speciosa (kratom). It is the active metabolite of the dominant alkaloid mitragynine. Whole-leaf kratom contains many alkaloids; isolated or concentrated 7-OH products contain primarily a single compound.
What is the half-life of 7-OH?: Reported half-life values for 7-OH come from animal-model pharmacokinetic studies and should be interpreted strictly in research context. Human pharmacokinetic data are limited. This page does not provide dosing guidance.
Why does the FDA scrutinize 7-OH specifically?: FDA's stated concern focuses on isolated and concentrated 7-OH products, which bypass the CYP3A4 rate-limiting step that gates 7-OH exposure from natural leaf material. The agency recommended Schedule I status to the DEA in July 2025 specifically for 7-OH; mitragynine itself was not the subject of that recommendation.
Does 7-OH show up on a standard drug test?: Standard immunoassay drug-test panels are not designed to detect 7-OH or other kratom alkaloids. Specialized LC-MS-based testing can identify 7-OH and mitragynine. Cross-reactivity with opioid immunoassays varies and has been characterized in published research.
What is biased agonism and why does it matter for 7-OH?: Biased agonism describes a ligand that preferentially activates one downstream receptor pathway over another. At the mu-opioid receptor, 7-OH preferentially activates G-protein signaling over β-arrestin recruitment in published assays. This signaling bias is one of the most active areas of opioid-pharmacology research and is reviewed on the dedicated Biased Agonism glossary page.

References

Váradi A, Marrone GF, Palmer TC, et al. (2016). Mitragynine/Corynantheidine pseudoindoxyls as opioid analgesics with mu agonism and delta antagonism, which do not recruit β-arrestin-2. Journal of Medicinal Chemistry. PMID 27513560.
Kruegel AC, Gassaway MM, Kapoor A, et al. (2016). Synthetic and receptor signaling explorations of the Mitragyna alkaloids: mitragynine as an atypical molecular framework for opioid receptor modulators. Journal of the American Chemical Society.
Matsumoto K, Mizowaki M, Suchitra T, et al. (1996). Antinociceptive action of mitragynine in mice: evidence for the involvement of supraspinal opioid receptors. Life Sciences.
Kamble SH, Sharma A, King TI, et al. (2020). Exploration of cytochrome P450 inhibition mediated drug-drug interaction potential of kratom alkaloids. Toxicology Letters.
Hassan Z, Muzaimi M, Navaratnam V, et al. (2013). From kratom to mitragynine and its derivatives: physiological and behavioural effects related to use, abuse, and addiction. Neuroscience and Biobehavioral Reviews. PMID 23206666.
U.S. Food and Drug Administration. (2025, July). FDA recommendation to schedule 7-hydroxymitragynine.

Important safety information:

Products containing 7-hydroxymitragynine (7-OH) are sold for adult use only (21+). These statements have not been evaluated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. The FDA has raised safety concerns regarding concentrated 7-OH products; consult a qualified healthcare professional before use. Do not operate vehicles or machinery after use. Keep out of reach of children and pets. Laws vary by state, buyers are responsible for knowing applicable law.