This document discusses opium and its constituents. Opium is obtained from the poppy plant Papaver somniferum and contains over 30 alkaloids, the most important being morphine, codeine, noscapine, papaverine, and thebaine. These alkaloids are extracted from opium through various chemical processes and have pharmaceutical uses as analgesics, antitussives, and hypnotics. Common opium alkaloid derivatives discussed include heroin, apomorphine, papaverine, hydromorphone, hydrocodone, and noscapine.

1. Opium
Biological Source: Opium
or gum opium is the air dried
milky exudates obtained by
incising the unripe capsules
of Papaver somniferum.
•Annual herb.
•Term opium is from Greek
Opion meaning Poppy juice.

2. Opium
 History: In 1806 Serturner isolated the alkaloid
morphine from Opium. The opium poppy is
grown commercially now in many countries
throughout the world.
 Cultivation and Collection: The cultivation of
Opium poppy is controlled internationally by the
International Narcotics Control Board of the
United Nations.

3. Constituents
 More than 30 different alkaloids have been
obtained. Most important of these are Morphine
(4-21%), Codeine (0.8-2.5%), Noscapine formerly
narcotine (4-8%), Papaverine (0.5-2.5%), thebaine
(0.5-2%) and narceine etc.
 Externally, opium is pale olive brown or olive gray.

4. Extraction from Opium (Continued)
Filtrate extracted
With Chloroform
1. Dissolve ppt. in alcohol
2. Acidify with Acetic acid
3. Add 3 volumes of boiling water
Precipitate
(narcotine)
Aqueous
Solution
(Thebaine)
Dissolve in boiling
0.3% oxalic acid sol and
cool
Aq.sol.
Narcotine
oxalate
Crystals
(Papaverine
Oxalate)
Chloroform
Aqueous sol.
Morphine, Narceine
Acidify then make slightly
Alkaline with Ammonia
Precipitate
(Morphine)
Aqueous sol.
(Narceine)

5. Opium Uses
 Pharmaceutic necessity for powdered opium.
 As an analgesic, a hypnotic, narcotic and
antidiarrheal.
 Checks excessive peristalsis.
 Dose: 60 mg
 Prescription products: Dover’s powder and
camphorated opium tincture.

6. Opium Alkaloids
Morphine
 Morphine and its salts
are classed as narcotic
analgesic.
 Strongly hypnotic and
narcotic.
 Induces nausea,
vomiting, constipation
and habit formation.
 Dose: Morphine Sulfate
parentrally is 10mg 6
times a day.

7. Codeine
 Most widely used
opium alkaloid. It may
be either obtained
from opium (0.2 to
0.7%).
 Prepared from
morphine by
methylation.
 From thebaine by
demethylation.

8. Codeine Uses
 Narcotic analgesic and antitussives.
 As sedative especially in allaying coughs.
 It is considerably less toxic and involves much less danger
of habit formation.
 Dose:
Usual doses of codeine phosphate and Codeine sulfate are
As analgesic: 15-60 mg every 4 hrs.
As antitussive:10-20 mg every 4-6 hrs.

9. Heroine
 Diacetyle morphine or
heroine is formed by the
acetylation of morphine.
 Danger of habit formation
its manufacture in the
United States is forbidden
by law and its use in
medicine has been
discontinued.

10. Apomorphine HCl
 Preparation
 When Rejected?
 Used as an emetic and is
particularly valuable in
cases of poisoning because
it may be administered SC.
 Dose: SC is 100µg/Kg of
body weight. (Max 6mg)

11. Papaverine
 Occurs naturally in
opium to the extent of
about 1%.
 Used as Smooth muscle
relaxant and an
antitussive in
combination with
Codeine sulfate.
 Dose: Orally 150 mg, IM
30 mg.
 As antitussive 15mg.
 Products Pavabid,
Pavadyl, Copavin
(Comb.)

12. Hydromorphone HCl
 Morphine derivative
 Use: powerful narcotic analgesic.
 Dose: 2 mg every 4 hrs
 Product: Chief ingredient in Dilaudid cough syrup.
 Side effects

13. Hydrocodone bitartarate or
Dihydrocodeinone bitartarate
 Codeine derivative
 Use: As an antitussive
 Dose: 5-10mg, 3 to 4 times a day.
 e.g. Dicodid and Codone

14. Noscapine
 Commonly called Narcotine and Anarcotine.
 Antitussive.
 Dose: 15mg up to 4 times a day.
 Available in syrup and chewable tablets. e.g. Conar and
Theo-Nar.