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Does the Isorhynchophylline in Kratom Boost Immunity?

Isorhynchophylline in Kratom to Boost Immunity

Written by: KRI Team

Last Updated: October 14, 2024

The leaves of the kratom tree (also known by the botanical name Mitragyna speciosa) boost a multitude of naturally-occuring alkaloids that interact with the body’s opioid receptors and might potentially hold moderate healing properties.

Although many scientific findings focus on the benefits of kratom’s main alkaloids, mitragynine and 7-hydroxymitragynine, the presence of isorhynchophylline in the botanical could lend incredible immunity boost properties to kratom.

As research continues on both the benefits and adverse effects of the numerous alkaloids found in kratom, it’s important to understand the role isorhynchophylline plays in enhancing the immune system and how it works in kratom. (1)

What is Isorhynchophylline?

Isorhynochophylline, also known as rhynchophylline, is an alkaloid found in plants that plays a significant role in metabolism and in bolstering the immune system. The alkaloid’s molecular formula is C22H28N2O4, and it acts as the main alkaloid in Uncaria plants used in traditional Chinese and Japanese medicine (2).

Although Isorhynochophylline is the featured alkaloid in Uncaria plants, it’s considered a secondary alkaloid in kratom. However, it is one of over 45 known alkaloids found in kratom, and features the following properties (3):

Promotes the degradation of alpha-synuclein (neuronal protein that contributes to Parkinson’s Disease) (4)
Protects nerves from damage
Reduces blood pressure
Relaxes blood vessels
Suppresses mitochondria-mediated cellular apoptosis (the removal of damaged or dead cells that’s crucial for immune system function)

Isorhycnchophylline can act as Cardiovascular protection

Benefits of Isorhycnchophylline

Isorhycnchophlline holds a multitude of health benefits, and can help your body’s immune system combat many potential challenges to your immune system. Scientific research has found that the alkaloid can boost your immunity by acting as the following (5):

Anti-inflammatory agent
Antihypertensive agent
Cardiovascular protection
Calcium and potassium modulator
Enhancer of vascular health
Neuroprotective agent
Sedative

How Isorhynchophylline works

Used in traditional Chinese and Japanese medicine to treat mild conditions like dizziness and headaches, and significant health issues such as epilepsy and stroke, ishrhynchophylline interacts with your body’s central nervous and cardiovascular systems. (6)

The World Health Organization (WHO) has stated that natural remedies can actually positively impact your health, and that traditional medicines can play a vital role in prescription drug development and increasing overall health. (7)

Although its pharmacological properties are still being explored, Isorhynchophylline has been found to protect cardiovascular and central nervous function and is thought to reduce pre-existing health issues. Generally, the alkaloid provides support to your immune system and can boost its functionality.

Natural sources of Isorhynchophylline

Isorhynchophylline is found in tropical or subtropical plants, including kratom. However, as the main alkaloid in Uncaria, a genus of flowering plants, the alkaloid is present in over 40 species.

Some examples of Uncaria include:

Cat’s Claw: Found in the Amazon rainforest, Cat’s Claw is a woody vine that may boost the immune system and act as a diuretic. (8)
Gambir: Gambir is a climbing vine native to Southeast Asia. Its extract is used to dye and tan cotton, and in some regions, is used to treat sciatica.
Gardenia: A subgenus of Uncaria, there are over 140 species of gardenia shrubs and trees native to tropical and subtropical climates.

Kratom and Isorhynchophylline

There are at least 45 active alkaloids in kratom, including isorhynchophylline. However, isorhynchophylline hasn’t yet been found to play a significant role in kratom’s physical effects.

The isorhynchophylline found in kratom may still contribute to boosting the immune system, though, and may build up in kratom users although they won’t initially feel its impact. Unlike kratom’s primary alkaloids, mitragynine and 7-hydroxymitragynine, isorhynchophylline doesn’t interact with your body’s opioid receptors. Thus, it has no bearing on the potentially stimulating or soothing effects of kratom.

It is not yet known how large a role kratom’s many alkaloids play in the botanical’s potential benefits and side effects, and most studies have focused on the two primary alkaloids present in kratom. (9)

Nevertheless, much like isorhynchophylline, for centuries, kratom has been used for medicinal purposes by native cultures in Southeast Asian regions like Borneo, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Thailand. (10)

Kratom has long been used as a traditional medicine

Can kratom boost immunity?

Scientific research into kratom is ongoing, and although there are many consistent pharmacological effects reported by kratom users, quantifiable proof of the lasting impact of kratom on the user has not yet been presented. Thus far, boosting your immune system does not seem to be a primary feature of kratom.

In native cultures where kratom has long been used as a traditional medicine, it has typically been used to treat the following:

Headaches
Insomnia
Muscular pain
Nerve pain
Fatigue in manual laborers to increase productivity
Morphine and other opioid withdrawal symptoms

Depending on the strain of kratom used in a product, most reputable kratom vendors feature product descriptions that highlight energy boosts, mental focus and mood enhancement support, calming and relaxing effects, and comfort.

Isorhynchophylline may still work toward boosting your immunity, but as a secondary compound in kratom, it may not interact with your body in the same ways that it does through natural Uncaria extracts.

A brief overview of kratom’s primary alkaloids

To understand how kratom may potentially boost immunity and offer other health benefits, it’s important to look at the botanical’s alkaloid composition. The multitude of alkaloids present in kratom might not present a significant impact on its effects. However, the predominant alkaloids found in kratom extract do influence the experience of a kratom user.

For example, mitragynine and 7-hydroxymitragynine interact with the body’s opioid receptors and can produce lasting effects that appeal to users looking for pain relief or productivity boosts. The impact of these alkaloids depends greatly on the purity, strength, and serving size of a kratom.

Let’s take a closer look at a few of kratom’s primary alkaloids.

Mitragynine

Mitragynine makes up approximately 60-70% of kratom’s alkaloid content. In green and white kratom strains, this alkaloid may produce comfort and pain relief. However, in red kratom strains, mitragynine may interact with the body’s opioid receptors to produce mild energy boosts. (11)

7-hydroxymitragynine

7-hydroxymitragynine is more potent than its primary alkaloid partner, but only accounts for about 2% of kratom’s alkaloid content. However, its potency still creates physical effects for the kratom user.

This alkaloid impacts the mu-opioid receptor which might allow kratom users to experience effects similar to small doses of morphine, such as strong pain relief and relaxation. (12)

Speciociliatine

Accounting for 1% of kratom’s alkaloid content, speciociliatine is often overlooked as a primary alkaloid contributor in kratom, but it still contributes to the pharmacological effects a user experiences.

This alkaloid more significantly binds to the body’s opioid receptors than mitragynine and is found in users after taking kratom products as it is slow to metabolize. It may play a predominant role in how kratom users feel the effects of the botanical. (13)

Does Isorhynchophylline play a significant role in the kratom experience?

Isorhynchophophylline helps protect the cardiovascular and central nervous system, and in kratom, it may offer an immunity boost if the botanical is frequently used. However, there’s still not enough evidence to point toward kratom use as a way to boost your immune system.

There isn’t any evidence to suggest that this alkaloid contributes to the energizing or soothing effects of kratom, or plays a significant role in the kratom experience.

Kratom Research Institute: Who we are

At Kratom Research Institute, we’re dedicated to sharing the truth about kratom, educating the kratom-curious, and giving readers access to significant educational resources to make an informed choice about their kratom journey.

We’re a group of consumers, health experts, and industry professionals who are passionate about transparently sharing the truth about kratom and keeping our readers informed about breaking news and any new kratom research.

The isorhynchophylline found in kratom may not be strong enough to offer an immunity boost, but it’s known to offer that benefit when it’s the primary natural alkaloid found in a plant. Until there’s conclusive proof, it’s a good idea not to rely on kratom to enhance your immune system, but isorhynchophylline shouldn’t hurt it either.

Sources

Kruegel, Andrew C. Uprely, Rajendra. Grinnell, Steven G. et.al.”7-Hydroxymitragynine Is an Active Metabolite of Mitragynine and a Key Mediator of Its Analgesic Effects.” PubMed Central. National Library of Medicine. National Institutes of Health. Published online 29 May 2019.

PubChem. “Isorhynchophylline (Compound).” National Center for Biotechnology Information (2024). PubChem Compound Summary for CID 3037048, Isorhynchophylline. Retrieved August 31, 2024.

MedChemExpress. “Isorhynchophylline.” Medchemexpress.com. N.d.

Stefanis, Leonadis. “α-Synuclein in Parkinson’s Disease.” PubMed Central. National Library of Medicine. Published 2 February 2012.

Gopal Geetha, Rajeswari. Ramachardan, Surya. “Recent Advances in the Anti-Inflammatory Activity of Plant-Derived Alkaloid Rhynchophylline in Neurological and Cardiovascular Diseases.” PubMed Central. National Library of Medicine. Published online 29 July 2021.

Xia, Lu. Hu, Ying. Feng, Ji-Kong. et. al. “Natural products as the calcium channel blockers for the treatment of arrhythmia: Advance and prospect.” Sciencedirect.com. Published September 2023.

Patwardhan, Bhushan. Mashelkar, Raghunath Anant. “Traditional medicine-inspired approaches to drug discovery: can Ayurveda show the way forward?” PubMed Central. National Library of Medicine. E-Published 27 May 2009.

National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health. “Cat’s Claw.” National Institutes of Health. N.d.

Ellis, Christopher R. Racz, Rebecca. et. al. “Evaluating kratom alkaloids using PHASE.” PubMed Central. National Library of Medicine. Published online 3 March 2020.