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(Papaver somniferum)
Introduction :
Papaver somniferum has a very long history of being a medicinally- and ceremoniously cultivated plant. In fact, it is one of the oldest cultigens known: the plant has been cultivated since Neolithicum in Swiss, Germany and upper-Italy and was described for the first time in a Sumerian clay tablet (± 3000 B.C.) and was referred to as 'the plant of luck'.
It is also known from several papyrus roles (papyrus of Ebers and Rammeseum) that the Ancient Egyptians must have been aware of the narcotic properties of the opium poppy. In ancient Greece, opium (the plant's milky latex) was called 'tears of Aphrodite' (the name 'opium' comes from the Greek 'Opos', which means plant sap).
In 1926, morphine was isolated from the opium poppy by Adam Sertürner. This was a breakthrough in phytochemistry, because it was the first alkaloid ever to be isolated.
Effects :
Opium has analgesic, sedative, euphoric, fear reducing, fantasy enhancing properties.
Autonomic changes: miosis (narrowing of the pupils), antitussiva (cough reducing properties), obstipation, decrease of body temperature and blood pressure.
Duration :
The effects appear quickly after ingestion and last for six to eight hours. When opium is smoked, the effects usually last a few (one to three) hours.
Dosage and preparation :
The foliage and seed capsules can be smoked (alone or in smoking mixtures) and imbibed as a tea. To prepare a tea, 1-2 hands-full of unripe seed capsules should be boiled in water for 15-20 minutes. Another and more efficient way to prepare a tea is to pulverize the capsules, add lemon juice, boil with some water for a few minutes and let it stay put for 10-30 minutes. Due to the acidic character of the solvent, the taste is quite sour, but it may be nutralised by alkaline additives.
Opium (the milky latex from P. somniferum) can easily be obtained by making shallow cuts in the unripe seed capsules. By doing that, a milky latex will appear and turn brown under influence of the air. This brown sticky gum is the raw opium that can be boiled in water to give a more pure product. Both may be smoked and eaten.
Botanical aspects :
Papaver somniferum is an annual that belongs to Papaveraceae and is native to Asia. The plant can grow 1.5 meter in height, has white, red, or violet petals and reproduces through kidney-shaped seeds. It grows best in a humus rich soil and is very sensitive to transplanting.
The seeds geminate easily by spreading them over the surface of the soil, tamping them in and water gently. In one to two weeks little seedlings will appear.
Figure: P. somniferum
 A blooming specimen
Phytochemistry :
The entire plant, except the roots, contains a milky latex, that consists of 25-40 'opium alkaloids'. Only a few of these alkaloids are responsible for the typical opium effects. Morphine is the major alkaloid present in the latex (3-23%), followed by noscapine (± 5%), codeine (0.1-4%), papaverine (0.1-4%) and thebaine (0.1-4%).
Morphine nucleus
Table 1.17: Morphine derivatives
Pharmacology :
The alkaloids can be divided in two groups on pharmacological basis: the phenanthren-group (morphine, codeine, thebaine) and the benzylisoquinoline-group (papaverine, noscapine).
Morphine and codeine act as analgetics, thebaine is a convulsant, papaverine a relaxant of the smooth muscles and noscapine has strong cough reducing properties, but little central acivity.
The opium-alkaloids exert their effects through three kind of opiodreceptors: m-,s- and k-receptors. All three are inhibiting G-proteine (Gi) linked receptors and thus inhibit adenylylcyclase and cAMP activated proteinekinase-A. Inhibition of proteinekinase-A leads to inhibition of phosphorylation reactions. A Blockade of the Ca2+ ion-channels and activation of K+ ion-channels (that are also an effect of the G-proteins) results in a reduced exitation of- and transmitter release from the nerve endings. Papaverine also is a non-selective inhibitor of adenosine A1-receptors.
Morphine undergoes biotransformation in the liver; the phenolic hydroxyl-groups (position 3) and alcoholic hydroxyls (position 6) conjugate with sulfotransferase and glucuronic acid. Codeine is metabolised by Cytochrome P-450 (D6).
Morphine is physiologically active at doses of 30 mg. orally, codeine 20-50 mg., papaverine from 200 mg.
Figure: A part oif morphine's metabolism
Modifiers :
- Cannabis potentiates the effects of the opium poppy.
- Opiod receptor antagonists (naloxon, naltrexon) counteracts the effects of opium-alkaloids. Naloxon usually is administered i.v. (0.4-2 mg.).
- Phenothiazines can increase respiratory depression, sedative-hypnotic effects and the blood pressure lowering effect of morphine.
References
1. [Forth/ Henschler/ Rummel/ Fostermann/ Starke, 2001]
2. [Fugh-Berman/ Cott, 1999]
3. [Ratsch, 1998]
4. [Snyder, 1996]
5. [Davidson, 1982]
6. [Karrer, 1950]
GROWING TECHNIQUES
Papaver somniferum is best grown outdoors, where it will grow in flower beds or large pots. Do not transplant them because the poppy has a very fragile root system.They prefer a well drained sandy soil (PH6), they do well in darker or shaded germinating conditions.
If your area gets snow in the winter then the Papaver somniferum is best sown in the fall. In other areas you can also sow in spring. The optimal germinating temperature is 55 f. Sow the seeds on the surface of the soil, the soil should be kept moist. The poppies will pop up in about 10 to 30 days.
Since poppies are a hardy perrenial, once you have flowering poppies they will easily self sow from the thousands of seeds produced. A Beautiful patch can be naturalized in any garden |
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