Comment · Thu, April 12, 2018 · Ceretropic & Nootropics Depot
Need some help interpreting a paper on Kratom.
Original post in this thread
Aikinator · 6 points
The paper.
>Physiological study further supported the effects of M. speciosa on the cognition. The methanolic extract of M. speciosa was found to produce an irreversible reduction of field excitatory post-synaptic potentials (fEPSP) amplitude with an IC50 of 0.008% in the hippocampal slices of rats. The methanolic extract of M. speciosa at 0.008% also inhibited long term potentiation (LTP) induction but induced a short-term potentiation. LTP is considered to underlie the learning and memory processes in the brain (Hansen andManahanVaughan, 2015, Shapiro, 2001; Martin and Morris, 2002). Therefore, the finding may elucidate one of the mechanisms underlying the memory-impairing effects of M. speciosa (Senik et al., 2012a).
What does the irreversible part mean?
What they were answering
Aikinator · 1 points
So this research then provides no reasons to think that Kratom irreversibly and negatively impacts cognitive faculties in humans?
u/MisterYouAreSoDumb · Ceretropic & Nootropics Depot
I wouldn't go that far. It provides some evidence that kratom may adversely affect cognition in higher doses or when used chronically. That's not really too surprising, though. Mitragynine and 7-Hydroxymitragynine are opioid agonists. Thus, larger doses adversely affecting cognition doesn't seem too implausible. The paper certainly does not provide evidence that kratom irreversibly impairs cognition in humans, though.