KRATOM UPDATES 2025

9-10 OCTOBER 2025, BALI – The Centre for Drug Research, Universiti Sains Malaysia (CDR, USM) in partnership with the National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN), Indonesia, and Prince of Songkla University, Thailand have successfully organised a scientific meeting, Kratom Updates that has brought together researchers from Malaysia, Thailand, and Indonesia to share research findings on ketum or kratom across different areas of research encompassing ketum agricultural practices, phytochemistry, therapeutic potentials from preclinical and human studies, potential adverse health effects, and ketum product development. The event that was held in Bali, Indonesia was also attended by industry representatives, government, and enforcement agencies.

From CDR, ChM. Dr. Thiruventhan Karunakaran shared about ketum extraction procedures. On therapeutic potentials of ketum, Dr. Farah Wahida Suhaimi gave a talk on antidepressant-like effects of mitragynine, while ChM. Dr. Nelson Chear Jeng Yeou shared on cognitive enhancing properties of selected ketum alkaloids. Prof. Dr. Vikneswaran Murugaiyah elaborated on blood plasma analysis of ketum users in comparison to non-users. Meanwhile, Prof. Dr. Zurina Hassan shared her research findings on the mechanistic of hippocampal synaptic plasticity impairment in rats treated with mitragynine, and Dr. Juzaili Azizi gave insights into transport of mitragynine across the blood-brain barrier.

The event which was supported by the American Kratom Association and industry partners from Indonesia, Thailand, and Malaysia successfully achieved its objective in strengthening collaborations and encouraging dialogues between stakeholders, towards increased understanding on evidence-based therapeutic potentials of ketum and potential risks associated with its consumption. This initiative is in line with Sustainable Development Goal 3 i.e. Good Health and Well-being.

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