Opium Poppy

Opium Poppy: Papaver somniferum Member of the Papaveraceae, poppy family Description Latex History

Fresh capsule of opium poppy Cut capsule showing latex exuding from cut

Ancient medical use Babylonia, Egyptian, Greek, and Roman civilizations Hippocrates, Theophrastus, Dioscorides, and Galen Methods Opium eaten, drunk, and smoked Opium wine Artifacts from ancient societies

Terra cotta head from Knossos bearing a corona of poppy capsules

Opium Alkaloids Morphine and codeine most important Heroin – a semi-synthetic derivative of morphine - diacetyl morphine Illegal in US since 1914 (Harrison Act)

Isoquinoline alkaloids

Opiates

Mode of action of opiates Bind to opiate receptors in membrane of neurons of the brain and spinal column (ID’d in 1970s) The natural ligands are endorphins and enkephalins which are released at synapses Inhibit “Substance P”

Opiate receptors m (mu) receptors - analgesia, euphoria k (kappa) receptors - sedation, spinal cord analgesia d (delta) receptors - Antitussive (coughing) properties, emesis (vomiting), and anticholinergic (constipation) sigma receptors - cardiac stimulation no longer considered an opiate receptor