Page 315 - Pharmacognosy 2 PG303

Pharmacognosy-2 (PG303) Level 2 Clinical Pharmacy-Pharm D

named laticiferous structures which may be cells, tubes or vessels and from which
the latex is obtained by making incisions in the plant. The well-known latex is
opium. It is official in the Egyptian Pharmacopoeia

Opium

Syn.: Raw Opium; Gum Opium; Succus Thebaicus

Opium is the air-dried latex obtained by incision from the fully-grown but
unripe capsules of Papaver somniferum L. and its varieties (Fam. Papaveraceae).
Opium yields not less than 10 % of morphine, calculated as anhydrous morphine.

The opium poppy is an annual herb with large, showy solitary flowers varying
in colour from white (var. album) to pink or purple (var. nigrum). It is native to
Asia minor and is cultivated in India, Persia, and China. The plant flowers in April
or May and the capsules mature in June or July. The fully-grown capsules are about
4 cm in diameter and change from bluish green to yellowish in colour. This is the
critical time for collecting the latex.

Collection
The fully-grown capsules are incised with a knife, usually three-bladed; the

incisions being made around the circumference of the capsules. The laticiferous
tubes open into one another so that it is not necessary to incise them all. The latex,
which is at first white rapidly coagulates and turns brown. The latex is removed
early the following morning; being scraped off with a knife and transferred to a
poppy leaf. When sufficient latex is collected, it is kneaded into balls which are then
wrapped in poppy leaves and shade dried. The opium is then inspected and usually
packed with the brown winged fruits of Rumex which prevent cohering.

Description
Opium occurs in more or less rounded or cubical pieces, or somewhat

flattened or brick-shaped masses, usually about 8-15 cm in diameter, varying in
weight, but commonly weighing between 250 and 1000 g sometimes wrapped in
tissue paper, red paper, cellophane or covered with poppy leaves or Rumex fruits.
Externally, dark brown to chocolate brown, sometimes with fragments of poppy
leaves and with Rumex fruits adhering to the masses; more or less plastic, when
fresh, becoming hard and tough, or occasionally brittle on keeping. Internally, it is
dark brown, coarsely granular or nearly smooth, frequently interspersed with lighter
areas; odor, strong, characteristic, and narcotic; taste, characteristic, and very bitter.

On the market, there are several commercial varieties, the most important of
which are the Turkish manipulated opium; Persian opium, Indian opium; and
Yugoslavian opium. These are characterised by:

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