PDR for Herbal Medicines

HERBAL MONOGRAPHS POPPYSEED/609

Jossang A et al., Cinnamrutinoses A and B, glycosides from

Populus tremula. In: PH 35(2):547. 1994.

Picard S et al., Isolation of a new phenolic compound from

leaves of Populus deltoides. In: JNP 57(6):808-810. 1994.

Thieme H, Benecke R, (1969) Pharmazie 24:567.

Vonkruedener S et al., Effects of extracts from Populus tremula

L., Solidago virgaurea L. and Fraxinus excelsior L. on various

myeloperoxidase systems. In: Arzneim Forsch 46(8):809-814.

1996.

Further information in:

Fenaroli's Handbook of Flavor Ingredients, Vol. 1. 2nd Ed.

Pub. CRC Press Boca Raton 1975.

Hegnauer R, Chemotaxonomie der Pflanzen, Bde 1-11,

Birkhauser Verlag Basel. Boston. Berlin 1962-1997.

Kern W, List PH. Horhammer L (Hrsg.), Hagers Handbuch der

Pharmazeutischen Praxis. 4. Aufl.. Bde. 1-8, Springer Verlag

Berlin, Heidelberg, New York, 1969.

Leung AY, Encyclopedia of Common Natural Ingredients Used

in Food Drugs and Cosmetics, John Wiley & Sons Inc., New

York 1980.

Madaus G, Lehrbuch der Biologischen Arzneimittel, Bde. 1-3,

Nachdruck. Georg Olms Verlag Hildesheim 1979.

Wagner H, Wiesenauer M. Phytotherapie. Phytopharmaka und

pflanzliche Homoopathika. Fischer-Verlag, Stuttgart, Jena, New

York 1995.

Poppyseed

Papaver somniferum

DESCRIPTION

Medicinal Parts: The medicinal part is the latex extracted

from the seed capsule.

Flower and Fruit: A solitary flower grows on a long,

glabrous or pubescent pedicle. The flowers are erect with a

diameter of 10 cm. There are 2 green, glabrous, falling sepals

and 4 violet-white or red petals with a darker mark at the

base. The fruit is round or ellipsoid and often has a very

large capsule! The numerous seeds are reniform, pitted,

black, and blue-frosted or whitish.

Leaves, Stem and Root: The opium Poppy is an annual that
grows 30 to 150 cm high. It is a 1-stemmed blue-gray frosted
plant. The stem is erect, straight or branched and produces,
as does the whole plant, white milky latex. The leaves are
entire, glabrous, serrated or crenate at the margin and
clasping.

Characteristics: The cultivation of the plant and the extrac-
tion and sale of opium is banned in many countries.

Habitat: The plant originated in western Asia. It is cultivated

worldwide commercially.

Production: Opium is the thickened latex collected from the

outside of immature Poppy capsules that have had incisions

made in the fruit capsules. The unripe seed capsules suitable

for the production of opium are trimmed. Subsequent to

drying, the processed latex is scraped off and formed into

pieces of varying size. The obtained material is referred to as

raw opium (Rohopium) and is also the basic substance used

for the production of heroin.

Other Names: Garden-Poppy, Mawseed, Opium Poppy

ACTIONS AND PHARMACOLOGY

COMPOUNDS

Isoquinoline alkaloids (20-30%): chief alkaloids morphine

(3-23%), narcotine (2-10%), codeine (0.2-3.5%), papaverine

(0.5-3%), thebaine (0.2-1%).] The alkaloids are present as

salts'of meconic acid, lactic acid or fumaric acid.

Benzyl isoquinoline type: papaverine (0.5 to 3%)

Phthalide isochinoline type: narcotine (noscapine, 2 to 10^)

Rubber (5-10%)

Resins

Mucilages

EFFECTS

The main alkaloid is morphine, which is a strong analgesic

that, even in small doses, causes euphoria, sedation then

narcotic sleep. It depresses breathing and slows down

evacuation of the stomach, causing constipation and urine

retention. Codeine has an antitussive effect and papaverine is

spasmolytic and vasodilatory.

INDICATIONS AND USAGE

Unproven Uses: Opium is used most frequently as a sedative

and/or analgesic. Uses in folk medicine include as a sedative

in cases of typhus, intestinal tuberculosis and intestinal

ulcers; for spasms of smooth muscle, bile ducts and urinary

tract; for peritonitis; for gallstones, kidney stones and

bladder colic; as well as for coughs and certain types of

depression.

Chinese Medicine: Uses in Chinese medicine include chronic

coughs, diarrhea, dysentery, anal prolapse and abdominal

symptoms.

Indian Medicine: Irritable cough, ear and eye inflammation,

proctologic symptoms, diarrhea and dysentery are considered

indications for use in Indian medicine.

CONTRAINDICATIONS

Contraindications include pregnancy (alkaloids pass through

the placenta barrier), nursing (alkaloids entering the mother's