Oxindole Alkaloids: What We Know About Kratom’s Immune Modulators

Written by: KRI Team

Last Updated: October 14, 2024

The many benefits of kratom come from its wide array of unique alkaloids, each with its unique and specific function. While most attention is focused on its two main alkaloids, mitragynine and 7-hydroxymitragynine, there’s little research or information on its lesser-known ones. Kratom’s oxindole alkaloids play a role in a kratom user’s experience, but to what extent? We’ll cover everything you need to know about oxindole alkaloids, better known as kratom’s immune modulators.

What Is Kratom?

The product known in the West as kratom is derived from a plant in the coffee family. Mitragyna speciosa is native to parts of Southeast Asia and has been long used by the indigenous community for two main reasons. Farmers, fishermen, and others with labor-intensive jobs typically chewed the leaves of the kratom tree to help boost energy and increase productivity. It was also brewed as a tea and served at village ceremonies as a social lubricant.

Now popular in other parts of the world, kratom is available as a raw powder, capsules, gummies, and as an extract. Smaller doses have a stimulant effect and can help to enhance focus, concentration, and well-being. Larger doses tend to have an analgesic and sedative effect.

Kratom’s primary benefits include:

Increased energy: Kratom can help to increase energy, much like caffeine, but without the crash. It also aids in concentration and focus.

Pain relief: The alkaloids mitragynine and 7-hydroxymitragynine bind to the brain’s opioid receptors and effectively reduce pain.

Enhanced mood: Kratom can enhance a user’s sense of well-being, and some studies suggest that it can help reduce the symptoms of depression and anxiety.

Opioid withdrawal aid: Those addicted to opioids have found that substituting kratom during withdrawals can help ease symptoms.

What Are Immune Modulators?

Immune modulators are substances that help to adjust the immune system. While not a primary kratom alkaloid, it does contain oxindole alkaloids, and it’s believed that they do play a role in kratom influencing the immune system. They perform two main functions:

Stimulate the immune system: Immune modulators can help to enhance the immune system. By increasing the number of immune cells, they can help to do things like reduce inflammation.

Suppressing the immune system: When the body’s immune system is overactive, immune modulators can influence the system to slow down.

Some common types of natural immune modulators include:

Echinacea
Cat’s Claw
Ginseng
Tumeric
Zinc

The Role of Oxindole Alkaloids in Kratom

Oxindole alkaloids are one of the many chemical compounds that naturally occur in certain plants. These compounds play a role in how kratom will affect a user’s body and what type of experience they’ll have. Oxindole alkaloids have a unique chemical structure and are believed to play a part in providing pain relief, mood enhancement, and relaxation. However, it’s believed that the oxindole alkaloids in kratom primarily interact with the body’s immune system.

The oxindole alkaloids in kratom are believed to better balance the immune system. By helping to modulate the immune system, they can potentially strengthen the body’s defenses against disease and injury. It’s also believed that oxindole alkaloids can help reduce inflammation, a leading cause of conditions such as arthritis and muscle soreness.

Some believe that oxindole alkaloids in kratom have a synergistic effect and assist other alkaloids. Unfortunately, there’s little research into the role of oxindole alkaloids in kratom. However, a 2015 study of the effects of Cat’s Claw, a plant native to Peru, suggests that the plant’s oxindole alkaloids influence the body’s immune system and help reduce inflammation.

Oxindole alkaloids can modulate the immune system

Kratom, Oxindole Alkaloids, and Immune Modulators

Most kratom research has focused on its two main alkaloids. Although some studies have looked into oxindole alkaloids and how they affect the body’s immune system, none have been done by isolating these alkaloids from kratom. Since some studies suggest that oxindole alkaloids can modulate the immune system, it can be inferred that these alkaloids, also found in kratom, will do the same. More research is needed to come to a definitive conclusion.