DOI: https://doi.org/10.14710/gjec.2026.30138

Green Purification of Mitragynine from Kratom Leaves (Mitragyna speciosa) through Solvent Variation in Acid-Base Extraction

*Meiny Suzery orcid scopus  -  Department of Chemistry, Universitas Diponegoro, Jl. Prof. Sudarto, SH, Tembalang, Semarang, Indonesia 50275, Indonesia
Bambang Cahyono orcid scopus  -  Department of Chemistry, Universitas Diponegoro, Jl. Prof. Sudarto, SH, Tembalang, Semarang, Indonesia 50275, Indonesia
Saniya Almasa Taqiya  -  Department of Chemistry, Universitas Diponegoro, Jl. Prof. Sudarto, SH, Tembalang, Semarang, Indonesia 50275, Indonesia
Safira Zikria  -  Department of Chemistry, Universitas Diponegoro, Jl. Prof. Sudarto, SH, Tembalang, Semarang, Indonesia 50275, Indonesia
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Abstract

Kratom (Mitragyna speciosa) is a major natural source of mitragynine, an indole alkaloid with potential
as an alternative analgesic to opioids. However, conventional chromatographic purification methods are
costly and generate large volumes of solvent waste, making them less compatible with green chemistry
principles. This study aimed to develop a non-chromatographic purification method using acid–base liquid–
liquid extraction (ABLLE) by varying the partition solvent. Kratom leaves were extracted with ethanol and
methanol, and the alkaloids were subsequently separated through acidification, basification, and liquid–
liquid partitioning using ethyl acetate and dichloromethane. Total alkaloid content (TAC) was determined
by UV–Vis spectrophotometry based on the bromocresol green (BCG) reaction, while mitragynine purity was
quantified using high-performance liquid chromatography with ultraviolet detection (HPLC-UV). The results
showed that the ethanol–dichloromethane system produced the alkaloid fraction with the highest
mitragynine purity, reaching 39.09%, whereas the ethanol–ethyl acetate system yielded a purity of 27.47%.
Both systems demonstrated a process efficiency of approximately 19%, with lower solvent consumption and
reduced process waste compared with column chromatography. These findings indicate that acid–base
liquid–liquid extraction has the potential to serve as a simpler, scalable, and more sustainable approach for
mitragynine purification, thereby

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Keywords: Mitragyna speciosa; acid–base liquid–liquid extraction; non-chromatographic purification method; green alkaloid isolation.
Funding: Universitas Diponegoro

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