Unripe seeds

Miscellaneous Alkaloids. Stukimic acid (57) is a precursor of anthranihc acid (28) and, in yeasts and Escherichia coli (a bacterium), anthranHic acid (o-aminobenzoic acid) is known to serve as a precursor of tryptophan (26). A similar but yet unknown path is presumed to operate in higher plants. Nonetheless, anthranHic acid itself is recognized as a precursor to a number of alkaloids. Thus damascenine [483-64-7] (134), C qH NO, from the seed coats of JSHgella damascena has been shown (95) to incorporate labeled anthranHic acid when unripe seeds of the plant are incubated with labeled precursor. 

Opium is the dried, powdered sap of the unripe seed pod of Papaver somniferum, a poppy plant indigenous to Asia minor. Theophrastus described its medical properties in the third century BC, but the Sumerians, ca BC 4000, probably perceived its utility. Arab physicians knew of the dmg, and Arab traders carried it to the Orient where it was used as a treatment for dysentery. Paracelsus is credited with repopularizing the dmg in western Europe in the early sixteenth century by formulating opium into "laudanum", which is still in use. More than 20 different alkaloids (qv) of two different classes comprise 25% of the weight of dry opium. The benzylisoquinolines, characterized by papaverine [58-74-2] (1.0%), a smooth muscle relaxant, and noscapine [128-62-1] (6.0%), an antitussive agent, do not have any analgesic effects. The phenanthrenes, the second group, are the more common and include 10% morphine (1, = R = H), 0.5% codeine [76-57-3], C gH2 N03, (1, R = H, R = CH3), and 0.2 thebaine [115-37-7], C 2H2 N03, (2). 

Rowers and unripe seed capsules of the opium poppy. Within the capsule is a milky, gummy substance that contains the alkaloid moiphine. 

Opioid analgesics are the narcotic analgesics obtained from the opium plant. More than 20 different alkaloids are obtained from the unripe seed of the opium poppy... 

House sparrow Passer Sorghum unripe seeds Tannins, astringents Tipton eta/., 1970... 

Opium is the milky exudate obtained by incising the unripe seed capsule of the poppy plant Papaver somniferum and morphine is the most important alkaloid of opium. Morphine produces analgesia through action in the brain and spinal cord, that contain peptides possessing opioid like pharmacological action. These endogenous substances are known as endogenous opioid peptides (earlier known as endorphin now known as P-endorphin). 

Codeine is extracted from opium. Opium is a chemically complex drug derived from a flowering plant, the opium poppy. The scientific name for the opium poppy is Papaver somniferum, which translated from Greek means poppy that causes sleep. Opium is produced by drying the thick liquid harvested from the unripe seed capsule of the flower. It contains several different medically important chemicals known as alkaloids (non-acidic chemicals), the most important being morphine and codeine. 

Opium is made by drying the liquid that comes from the unripe seed capsule of the opium poppy, a flowering plant common to certain parts of the world. References to opium and its medicinal value have been found in writings dating from several thousand years ago. Up until the twentieth century, opium was prized for its ability to alleviate pain, treat diarrhea, and elevate mood. In addition to its well-established use as a treatment for pain and diarrhea, opium was touted and used as a cure for a wide range of other medical problems. In truth,... 

After the poppies bloom, petals drop off and farmers are able to collect the opium from the unripe seed pod in the center of the flower. Illicitly harvesting opium is labor-intensive work that must be done by hand. The pod is slit with specially designed knives. Called taping,... 

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. 

The latex obtained by incision of the unripe seed capsule of the poppy, Papaver somniferum, and known as opium is the source of several pharmacologically important alkaloids. Dioskurides, in about a.d. 77, referred to both the latex (opos) and a total plant extract (mekonion) and to the use of oral and inhaled (pipe-smoked) opium to induce a state of euphoria and sedation. Since before the Christian era the therapeutic properties of opium were evident, with the first written reference to poppy juice being by Theophrastus in the third century b.c. 

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. 

Fresh leaves containing flowers and unripe seeds are mostly used. The leaves are with water by decoction or maceration. 

Opium is prepared from the juice of the unripe seed pods of the opium poppy, which grows only in certain areas of the world, such as Southeast Asia, to name the most predominant producing area today. Alkaloids contained in opium include codeine, morphine and papaverine. Medicinally, all opiates have been used to releive pain, as far back as 5(X)0... 

A survey of Yugoslavian Colchicum species revealed the presence of colchicine in C. arenarium, C. autumnale, C. bartolini, C. doerfleri, C. kochii, C. latifolium, C. macedonicum, and C. visianii,178 Unripe seeds of Colchicum plants were found to contain 40 % less colchicine than fully ripe ones. 

The unripe seeds of the plant yielded an appreciable quantity of d-glau-cine. 

The Juice opium in Greek) or latex from the unripe seed pods of the poppy Papaver somniferum is among the oldest recorded medications used by humans. The writings of Theophrastus around 200 BC describe the use of opium in medicine however, evidence suggests that opium was used in the Sumerian culture as early as 3500 BC. The initial use of opium was as a tonic, or it was smoked. The pharmacist Surturner first isolated an alkaloid from opium in 1803. He named the alkaloid morphine, after Morpheus, the Greek god of dreams. Codeine, thebaine, and papaverine are other medically important alkaloids that were later isolated from the latex of opium poppies. 

The lipid content in seeds may be more than 40 to 50% dry weight (Table 11.1). The seeds are directly used as food (e.g., nuts) or can be processed to yield edible oils (in most cases) or pastes (e.g., peanut butter). During ripening, TAG are synthesized from FA and glycerol so that free FA, monoacylglycerols, and dia-cylglycerols may be present in unripe seeds in small amounts (Section 11.5.1). 

More recently it has been found in Berberis laurina Billb. (164, 165, 166), in which it may occur to the extent of 1.4%. In H. canadensis the content varies from about 1.5 to 3.9% (167, 168). It is chiefly present in the rhizomes, with less amounts in the leaves and rootlets (169, 170), and only traces in the unripe seeds (169). 

Production By steam distillation of the aerial parts of the parsley plant, including the unripe seeds. Composition A major part of the oil consists of monoterpene hydrocarbons such as a- andP- pinenes, myrcene, limonene, P-phellandrene (see p-mentha-dienes). The occurrence of p-mentha-1,3,8-triene (usually between 20 and 30%) (C,oH,4, Mr 134.22) is characteristic and mainly responsible for Ae organoleptic impression. According to recent investigations a series of other trace components with widely varying structures also contributes to the typical parsley odor. The leaf oil also contains lower concentrations of those compounds that constitute the main components of parsley seed oil (see below). 

Rape seeds are small, round (0.1-0.2mm diam.) and can be yellow, brown or black. The oil content usually lies within the range of 40-60%. The oil can be obtained either by expelling or solvent extraction or a combination of the two. The crude oil is dark amber in colour and contains a high level of phos-phatides (3.5%), pigments, especially chlorophyll from unripe seeds, and sulphur compounds (Crawford, 1982 Mag, 1983). 

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