1. Opium Poppy

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

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

4. 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

5. Terra cotta head from Knossos bearing a corona of poppy capsules

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

7. Isoquinoline alkaloids

8. Opiates

9. 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”

11. 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