Page 47 - Phytochemistry 2 (06-PG 605)

Opium alkaloids with benzylisoquinoline nucleus

• This group includes the weakly basic alkaloids

MeO

• Papaverine

N

• Narcotine (noscapine) MeO

Papaverine MeO

Properties OMe

** Papaverine is an aromatic weakly basic, Papaverine
alkaloid.
optically inactive, crystalline

** It can be extracted with chloroform from acidic solution.

 Papaverine oxalate is insoluble in water and is usually utilized for its
separation from other opium alkaloids.

** The therapeutically used salt of papaverine is papaverine hydrochloride

Test for identification

1-Warren’s test for papaverine:

Few crystals of papaverine are crushed with crystal of potassium permenganate
and one drop of Marqui’s reagent. A green colour develops, rapidly changed to
blue.

Assay : By non aqueous titration.

Uses

• Papaverine possesses spasmolytic (smooth muscle relaxant ) and
vasodilator activity.

• It is used as antispasmodic for GIT spasms and in bronchial asthma in a
dose up to 600 mg of papaverine HCL daily.

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