Determination of mitragynine bound opioid receptors

• Main Authors: Baharuldin, Mohamad Taufik Hidayat, Apryani, Evhy, Mohamad, Nabishah, Mohd Moklas, Mohamad Aris, Fakurazi, Sharida, Adzhar, Muhammad Farhan
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: American-Eurasian Network for Scientific Information 2010
• Online Access: http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/13954/1/Determination%20of%20mitragynine%20bound%20opioid%20receptors.pdf; http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/13954/; http://arnmsmb.com/old/amds_sept-dec_2009.html
• Institution: Universiti Putra Malaysia

Mitragyna Speciosa Korth from Rubiaceae family is a tropical plant indigenous to Southeast Asia particularly in Thailand, Peninsular of Malaysia and Indonesia. The leaves have been used by natives for their opium-like effect and cocaine-like stimulant ability to combat fatigue and enhance tolerance to hard work. This study is designed to examine the binding affinity and selectivity of mitragynine towards opioid receptors namely µ-, δ-, and κ-receptors and the density of those opioid receptors in brain tissues, spinal cord, duodenum, ileum and vas deferens. Our results suggest that mitragynine has a high affinity to the 9-opioid receptors and brain has the highest density of opioid receptors.