It’s 7-OH, Not 7-OHM!

Let’s Clear Up This Abbreviation Business

If you’ve poked around kratom communities, no doubt you’ve encountered talk of “7-OHM” - used to refer to 7-hydroxymitragynine. Seems reasonable enough as an abbreviation for this notoriously potent kratom alkaloid... aside from it being wrong! Don't fret though, we're here to set the record straight.

See, proper biochemical shorthand calls for OH to represent a hydroxy functional group, not OHM, not OHMS, or OHMZ, or PMS. I know, such a tiny difference - what does it matter? Well to us chemistry sticklers, it makes ALL the difference! Let's break this down shall we?

Now, OH is used in molecular formula shorthand to denote the bonded oxygen and hydrogen in, you guessed it, a hydroxy group! So by proper convention, that critical modification on mitragynine should read as 7-OH. Simple, elegant, to the point.

Conversely, tacking on an M to spell OHM incorrectly implies a methyl group CH3 has been added to the compound's structure. And while methylation would also impact the molecule’s activity...that ain’t what’s happening here! It’s hydroxylation enfranchising the O and H, not methylation adding on some rogue carbon. Got it?

So beware false shortcuts kids - incorrectly calling it 7-OHM undermines the true chemical enhancement going on! And we just can't have that misrepresenting our 7-Hydroxy now can we? It may seem subtle, but structures and shorthand can make a HUGE difference when it comes to chemistry. Now go forth and abbreviate properly!

Check out our OH!