In brief
From a technological standpoint, kratom products are divided into two main groups: powder (dried and ground leaf without further processing) and extract (a concentrated alkaloid fraction obtained by solvent extraction and subsequent evaporation). The designation "10×" or "20×" describes the concentration ratio - how many kilograms of raw material were processed into 1 kilogram of the final product. From the standpoint of Czech regulation, both types fall under the same PML regime.
Powder (grinding of dried leaf)
The production of kratom powder is a technologically simpler process:
- Harvest of mature leaf from the plantation.
- Sorting by vein colour and maturity phase (more in the article Kratom vein colours).
- Drying in a shaded, ventilated space (possibly controlled fermentation).
- Grinding - typically a hammer or impact mill with subsequent sieve classification.
- Packaging in suitable containers with regard to storage stability.
The final product contains the whole plant matrix, including cellulose, polyphenols and trace components. The content of alkaloids in the powder corresponds to the content in the original leaf - typically 0.5-1.8 % by weight.
Extract (water/alcohol extraction, drying)
An extract is produced by concentrating the alkaloids from the powder. A typical technological procedure:
- Extraction - contact of the ground leaf with a solvent (water, ethanol, methanol or a mixture of them). Extraction takes place with stirring, possibly with ultrasound or heating.
- Filtration - separation of the insoluble plant material (fibre, lignin).
- Evaporation of the solvent - vacuum evaporation or spray drying under reduced pressure so that the temperature does not exceed 60 °C (preventing thermal degradation of the alkaloids).
- Grinding and packaging - the resulting concentrate is ground into a fine powder.
Depending on the choice of solvent, a product with a different composition is obtained - water extraction favours soluble polar alkaloids, while ethanol extraction also captures less polar compounds. Methanol is not permitted in the EU as a residual solvent for consumer products.
Alkaloid concentration (1× vs. 10×, 20×)
The designation "10× extract" or "20× extract" describes the raw-material ratio - how many kilograms of dried leaf were processed into 1 kilogram of the final extract:
- 10× extract: 10 kg of raw powder → 1 kg of extract,
- 20× extract: 20 kg of raw powder → 1 kg of extract.
This ratio is not identical to the ratio of active substances. The actual content of the main alkaloids in the extract depends on the efficiency of the extraction - typically not 100 %. With a "10× extract" declaration, the actual mitragynine content is therefore lower than ten times the content in the original powder; the real multiple tends to be 5-8× depending on the technology. Only the COA of the specific batch states it reliably.
Standardisation and its limits
A standardised extract is one for which the manufacturer guarantees a specific content of the main active substance (e.g. "45% mitragynine"). Standardisation in the technology of plant extracts has several levels:
- Raw-material standardisation - the manufacturer controls only the ratio of raw material to extract (1:10, 1:20). It does not guarantee a specific content of active substances.
- Standardisation to a main marker - the content of one alkaloid (typically mitragynine) is guaranteed as a percentage.
- Full-spectrum standardisation - the content of several alkaloids and the ratio between them is guaranteed.
The limits of standardisation for kratom:
- no standardisation guarantees full reproducibility - the alkaloid profile of the raw material varies (see The alkaloid profile of kratom),
- standardisation to one marker (mitragynine) ignores the contribution of 7-OH-MG and the other alkaloids,
- extracts with a very high concentration (e.g. "99% mitragynine") are de facto isolated individual alkaloids, not plant extracts - and may be assessed differently in regulatory terms.
Frequently asked questions
What does "10× extract" mean?
A raw-material ratio - 10 kilograms of raw powder were used to produce 1 kilogram of extract. The actual multiple of mitragynine concentration tends to be lower (typically 5-8× because of incomplete extraction yield).
Is the extract regulated the same as the powder?
In the Czech Republic, yes. Under the amendment to Act No. 167/1998 Coll., effective from 1 January 2026, both Mitragyna speciosa and preparations containing its main alkaloids are classified as PML - i.e. extracts and concentrates as well. In more detail in the article The new regulation of kratom in the Czech Republic from 2026.
Can an extract be made at home?
Technologically, a simple extraction with water or alcohol is in principle possible, but without analytical control neither the final alkaloid content nor the microbiological safety can be guaranteed. In addition, from the standpoint of Czech regulation, the production of PML falls under a licence pursuant to Section 3 of Act 167/1998 Coll.
What is the difference between an extract and a tincture?
A tincture is a liquid solution of an extraction preparation, typically in alcohol. An extract is a dried concentrate. Technologically, a tincture is an intermediate stage - a dried extract can be obtained from it by evaporating the solvent.
References
- Hassan Z. et al. (2013). From kratom to mitragynine and its derivatives. Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews, 37(2), 138-151.
- Kruegel A. C., Grundmann O. (2018). The medicinal chemistry and neuropharmacology of kratom. Neuropharmacology, 134, 108-120.
- European Pharmacopoeia, Extracta monograph. General monographs for plant extracts.
