medicines Review Mitragyna speciosa: Clinical, Toxicological Aspects and Analysis in Biological and Non-Biological Samples Vânia Meireles 1, Tiago Rosado 1,Mário Barroso 2, Sofia Soares 1, Joana Gonçalves 1, Ângelo Luís 1 ,Débora Caramelo 1, Ana Y. Simão 1, Nicolás Fernández 3, Ana Paula Duarte 1 and Eugenia Gallardo 1,* 1 Centro de Investigação em Ciências da Saúde, Faculdade de Ciências da Saúde da Universidade da Beira Interior (CICS-UBI), 6200-506 Covilhã, Portugal;
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[email protected] (A.P.D.) 2 Serviço de Química e Toxicologia Forenses, Instituto de Medicina Legal e Ciências Forenses—Delegação do Sul, 1169-201 Lisboa, Portugal;
[email protected] 3 Universidad de Buenos Aires, Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica, Cátedra de Toxicología y Química Legal, Laboratorio de Asesoramiento Toxicológico Analítico (CENATOXA). Junín 956 7mo piso. Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires (CABA), Buenos Aires C1113AAD, Argentina;
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[email protected]; Tel.: +35-127-532-9002 Received: 31 January 2019; Accepted: 27 February 2019; Published: 4 March 2019 Abstract: The abuse of psychotropic substances is a well-known phenomenon, and many of them are usually associated with ancestral traditions and home remedies. This is the case of Mitragyna speciosa (kratom), a tropical tree used to improve work performance and to withstand great heat. According to several published studies, the main reasons for kratom consumption involve improving sexual performance and endurance, but also social and recreational uses for the feeling of happiness and euphoria; it is also used for medical purposes as a pain reliever, and in the treatment of diarrhea, fever, diabetes, and hypertension.