A comprehensive review on phytochemistry and pharmaceutical potential of opium poppy (Papaver somniferum L.)

Papaver somniferum L. is a self-pollinating, ancient angiosperm herbaceous annual, biennial, and short-lived perennial plant that is used for food, vegetables, oils, medicine, and ornament. The latex obtained from capsules contains nitrogen-containing secondary metabolites, which opium is a class of alkaloids with potent analgesic properties. The major alkaloids present in latex are morphine (15-20%), codeine (4-6%), thebaine (1-3%), narcotine (5-10% ) and papaverine (0-2%). Numerous solvent systems, including methanol, acetic acid, acetonitrile, ammonium acetate, and sodium acetate, are used in electrophoresis and chromatography procedures to quantify and isolate different alkaloids at predetermined pH levels. Important morphinane alkaloids belong to the group that works on the central nervous system (CNS) are highly addictive, analgesic (pain relief), and narcotic compounds. Other opium alkaloids like papaverine and narcotine relax muscles pain, while codeine has antitussive properties used as cough suppressants and anticancer activity. Thus, the article focused on the pharmacological and phytochemical aspects of opium poppy alkaloids.