Page 47 - phytochemistry II -pharmD general

To the filterate add FeCl3 solution. A red colour develops which does not
disappear on addition of dil HCl.

This test has been used as a rapid and reasonably specific test for opium.

Opium contains about 40 alkaloids, these alkaloids can be divided into the
following 3 main chemical classes:

1- Benzylisoquinoline group, including papaverine, and noscapine (narcotine).

2- Phenylethylamine group, represented by narceine.

3- Phenanthrene group, including morphine, codeine and thebaine.

Opium alkaloids with benzylisoquinoline nucleus

• This group includes the weakly basic alkaloids

MeO

• Papaverine

N

• Narcotine (noscapine) MeO

Papaverine MeO

Properties OMe

Papaverine

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

** 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

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