Opium and its alkaloids

American Journal of Pharmaceutical Education,  Summer 2002  by Schiff, Paul L Jr

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Whole or crushed dark poppy seeds, sometimes called maw seeds, are used in various baked goods in both Europe and the United States, and were once thought to contain little if any alkaloids. However, some 15 years ago it was determined that morphine and codeine may be detected in the urine more than 48 hours after the ingestion of culinary poppy seeds(12). Urinary codeine and morphine levels were 214 ng/mL and 2,797 ng/mL, respectively, post three hours ingestion. Poppy seed analysis demonstrated that consumption of a single poppy seed bagel could lead to the ingestion of up to 0.1 mg of codeine and up to 1.5 mg of morphine, demonstrating that a positive detection and identification of urinary morphine or codeine may not always be due to drug ingestion(13).

The upper stalk of the plant (including the crushed capsules) may be cut and dried and the resultant poppy "straw" processed via extraction to remove the alkaloid morphine. Poppy straw is principally produced in Australia, France, Spain, Ukraine, Yugoslavia, and Turkey. Although Turkey was a former producer of both licit and illicit opium, it is now illegal to produce opium in that country, but poppies may be cultivated for the exclusive production of poppy seeds and poppy straw. Illicit opium trade is more commonly found in remote border areas of "the Golden Triangle" (Laos, Thailand, and Myanmar), "the Golden Crescent" (Afghanistan, Iran, Pakistan), India, Lebanon, and Mexico(3,8-11).

Opium - Physical Characteristics

Opium appears as a more or less rounded, oval, brickshaped or elongated, somewhat flattened mass, usually about 8-15 cm in diameter and weighing about 0.3-2 kg each. Externally, it is pale olive-brown or olive-gray in color with a coarse surface, and may be covered with a thin coating consisting of poppy leave fragments, or with fruits of a species of Rumex adhering from the packing. It tends to be plastic when fresh, but becomes more dense and tough on storage. Internally, it is reddish brown and coarsely granular(14,15). Microscopic examination of powdered opium demonstrates the presence of amorphous latex masses, leaf and epicarp fragments, brown stone cells, narrow spiral vessels or pieces of vessels, parenchyma, starch grains and refringent crystals(3,8,14).

Opium - Official Definition

Opium is the air-dried milky exudate obtained by incising the unripe capsules of Papaver somniferum L. or its variety album De Candolle (Fam. Papaveraceae). It yields not less than 9.5 percent of anhydrous morphine(15). Powdered Opium is Opium dried at a temperature not exceeding 70 deg C, and reduced to a very fine powder. Powdered Opium yields not less than 10.0 percent and not more than 10.5 percent of anhydrous morphine. It may contain any of the diluents, with the exception of starch, permitted for powdered extracts(15).

Opium Products

Within the United States, opium is considered a pharmaceutic necessity for the preparation of powdered opium. Opium Tincture, also called Laudanum or Deodorized Opium Tincture, is designated as a DEA Schedule II controlled substance. It contains approximately 20 percent ethanol and 10 percent opium, and as such contains 10 mg/mL of anhydrous morphine. It was once employed as a common narcotic (0.6 mL q.i.d.), but is infrequently used today. Paregoric, also known as Camphorated Opium Tincture, is a Schedule III controlled substance that contains about 0.4 mg/mL of anhydrous morphine in 45 percent ethanol. It is commonly used as an antidiarrheal (5 mL 1-4 times daily). An uncommonly used but available product is Opium and Belladonna Suppositories (Schedule II - 30 or 60 mg of Powdered Opium and 15 mg of Powdered Belladonna Extract per suppository)(9,15).