OPIUM Flashcards
What is the botanical name of opium
Papaver somniferum Linn.
Family Papaveraceae
The botanical name Papaver somniferum Linn.
Family Papaveraceae belongs to what plant
Opium
What is another botanical name of opium
Papaver album Decand
Family Papaveraceae
Common names of opium
Crude opium
Raw opium
Gum opium
How is opium defined
The focus is on the dried milky latex
Therefore opium is the dried milky latex obtained from the incision unripe poppy capsules of Papaver somniferum Linn. Family Papaveraceae
How is the milky latex obtained from the opium dried
Partly by spontaneous evaporation
Partly by artificial heat
Opium is known in commerce as
Indian opium
In the bp opium is required to contain
Not less than 10p morphine, not less than 2p codeine, thebaine is limited to 3p
What is the geographical source of opium
India
Pakistan
China
In the BP monograph what does it say about opium
It is a starting material for manufacture of galenical preparations and therefore should not be dispensed, hence powdered opium is no longer official
What are the characteristics of opium
It has a rounded mass with a diameter of 8 to 15m and a weight of 300g to 2kg
Its external surface is pale or chocolate brown
Its internal surface is granular and reddish brown
It has a bitter taste and characteristic odor
Microscopy of opium
The microscopy is based on the initial phase and when water has been extracted
For the water extraction phase
Presence of few starch granules, pollen grains and pointed trichomes
Initial phase
Agglomerated latex granules of irregular masses present
What are the chemical constituents of opium
Consists of up to 30 alkaloids that are usually combined with meconic acid
The main constituent is Morphine 10 to 16p
Other constituents are
Codeine 0.8 to 2.5p
Thebaine 0.5 to 2p
Noscapine 4 to 8p
Narceine and papaverine 0.5 to 2.5p
What is the diabasic acid found in opium
Meconic acid
How is meconic acid detected
In it’s free state
Meconate by the formation of a deep red color when reacted with ferric chloride used to detect the presence of opium
What substance serves as the taxonomic marker for Papaveraceae(Morphinanes)
Meconic acid
The species of Papaveraceae that produces morphine are called
Morphinanes
What type of acid similar to meconic acid and is found in other members of the family Papaveraceae
Chelidonic acid
What are the chemical tests for opium
The compounds tested are morphine, opium and codeine
Reagents are ferric chloride, acid, NaOH
Aqueous solution of opium plus ferric chloride solution gives a deep reddish purple color that persists in addition to HCL
Morphine is soluble in NaOH solution
Codeine is gives a precipitate with NaOH solution
Morphine plus conc. H2SO4 plus formaldehyde gives a dark violet color
Opium alkaloids according to their decrease in narcotic properties
Morphine, codeine and Noscapine
