Papaver somniferum opium

Classical examples of Asian medicinal plants are Papaver somniferum (opium, Papaveraceae), Cannabis sativa L. (cannabis, Cannabinaceae), and Myristica fragrans... 

Codeine Alkaloid Analgesic, cough suppressor Papaver somniferum (opium poppy)... 

Opium alkaloids are nonpeptide agonists for the opioid peptide hormone receptors. The dried latex of Papaver somniferum (opium), or the seed capsule of the plant itself, are the sources of almost 25 alkaloids. Some simple isoquinolines from opium, like papaverine (5.86), are antispasmodics. The principal alkaloid ( 10% of the total) is morphine (3.11), which is also an isoquinoline (rings C and E) but can addihonally be considered a phenanthrene derivahve (rings A, B, and C). 

Heroin is a narcotic derived from the opium poppy plant (Papaver somniferum). Opium poppy is grown primarily by destitute farmers in what is known as the Golden Crescent in Southwest Asia (encompassing Turkey, Iran, Afghanistan, and Pakistan) and the Golden Triangle in Southeast Asia (Burma, Thailand, Laos, and Vietnam). In the Americas, Columbia and Mexico are chief producers. 

The chemical and pharmacological complexity of the various IQ alkaloid sub-groups is sketched below with pharmacological and other attributes for each compound given in parentheses. Some of the better-known IQ alkaloids derive from opium, the dried milky latex from the unripe seed pods of Papaver somniferum (opium poppy) (Papaveraceae) and accordingly whether a substance is opium-derived is also indicated. Selected representative examples are given for each IQ alkaloid subgroup. 

Strychnos usambarensis (Loganiaceae) [root] S. Am. Indian poison curare component Derived synthetically from morphine, a morphinan isoquinoline alkaloid from Papaver somniferum (opium poppy) (Papaveraceae) [aerial]... 

Chelidonium majus, Argemone, Bocconia, Corydalis, Eschscholzia, Glaucium, Macleaya, Papaver somniferum (opium poppy), Sanguinaria spp. (Papaveraceae), Fumaria officinalis (fumitory) (Fumariaceae)... 

Rauwolfia serpentina (Apocynaceae), Pausinystaliayohimbe (Rubiaceae) [yohimbe bark] Annona glabra, A. spp. (Annonaceae), Cryptocarya odorata (Lauraceae), Papaver somniferum (opium poppy latex), P spp. (Papaveraceae),... 

Neopine (= p-Codeine) Papaver somniferum (opium O-R agonist [analgesic,... 

Opiates are compounds extracted from the milky latex contained in the unripe seed pods of the opium poppy (Papaver somniferum). Opium, morphine, and codeine are the most important opiate alkaloids found in the opium poppy. Opium was used as folk medicine for hundreds, perhaps thousands of years. In the seventeenth century opium smoking led to major addiction problems. In the first decade of the nineteenth century, morphine was isolated from opium. About 20 years later, codeine, one-fifth as strong as morphine, was isolated from both opium and morphine. In 1898, heroin, an extremely potent and addictive derivative of morphine was isolated. The invention of the hypodermic needle during the mid-nineteenth century allowed opiates to be delivered directly into the blood stream, which increases the effects of these drugs. Synthetically produced drugs with morphine-like properties are called opioids. The terms narcotic, opiate, and opioid are frequently used interchangeably. Some common synthetically produced opioids include meperidine (its trade name is Demerol) and methadone, a drug often used to treat heroin addiction. 

Papaver somniferum (opium poppy) contains a variety of opioid and related alkaloids, including codeine, morphine, noscapine, papaverine, and thebaine. Crude opium is the air-dried latex obtained by incising the unripe capsules of P. somniferum. Paregoric is ammoniated tincture of opium (Scotch paregoric) or camphorated tincture of opium (English paregoric). The use of these formulations has largely been replaced by use of the purified compounds. 

The focus of this paper is to review and identify those psychoactive plant species of sub-Saharan Africa. The biological and cultural diversity of Africa is immense (there are over 2,000 languages represented in sub-Saharan Africa). However, these ancient medicinal systems, usually based on oral traditions, are poorly documented even to this day. In contrast. North Africa and the Middle East have a relatively well documented traditional medicine (12-14). The Babylonians, Assyrians and Sumerians recorded heibal remedies in cuneiform on clay tables as long ago as 4000 BC. Not only can we attribute the origins of civilization to North Africa and the Middle East but also possibly the most important psychoactive plant, Papaver somniferum (opium poppy), from which the first alkaloid and psychoactive chemical was isolated. Morphine was first isolated by the German pharmacist Sertuner in 1803 (15). 

Opioids are drugs that have morphine-like actions and the name comes from the source of morphine and opium, the opium poppy, Papaver somniferum. Opium itself is a mixture of substances that occur in the sap of the opium poppy. 

Narceine is an opium alkaloid produced by the Papaver somniferum (opium poppy) plant. It is a bitter, crystalline compound with narcotic effects and was formerly used as a substitute for morphine (Fig. 15.5). 

Meconic acid, also known as acidum mecrmicum and poppy acid, is a chemical substance found in certain plants of the Papaveraceae family (poppy) such as Papaver somniferum (opium poppy) and Papaver bracteatum. Meconic acid constitutes about 5 % of opium and can be used as an analytical marker for the presence of opium. Meconic acid has erroneously been described as a mild narcotic, but it has little or no physiological activity, and is not used medicinally. Meconic acid forms salts with alkaloids and metals. These salts as well as meconic acid esters are called meconates. Meconic acid was first isolated by Friedrich Sertiimer in 1805 (Fig. 15.5). 

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