A Specific Method for the Determination of Morphine

Abstract

Summary The iodic acid‐ammonium‐carbonate‐nickel salt reaction has been adapted for the routine spectrophotometric determination of morphine; the method is sensitive down to about 0·005 per cent, of morphine in solution and 0·03 per cent, of morphine can be determined with an accuracy within ± 2 per cent. Of the bases occurring with morphine in nature only pseudo‐morphine interfered weakly and the method has been used for the rapid determination of morphine in opium and poppy capsule. The factors affecting the formation of the green complex are briefly discussed.

Changes in the capsule of Papaver somniferum between flowering and maturity

“…The nitrogen content was obtained by a semi-micro-Kjeldahl technique, using sodium sulphate and selenium as a catalyst; the protein content was assumed to be 6.25 x total nitrogen. The morphine was estimated by Guarino's method as modified by Pride & Stern (1954). This method is appropriate for the analysis of poppy capsules and the amount of solid morphine isolated in the laboratory from a bulk sample of poppy capsules agreed satisfactorily with the morphine content indicated by analysis.…”

Combining ability of opium poppy genotypes over F1 and F2 generations of 8x8 diallel cross

“…The opium obtained from each lancing was pooled and kept for air drying. The morphine content (%) in the opium sample was estimated following Pride and Stern (1954).…”

The effect of irrigation on the growth and yield components of poppies (Papaver somniferumL.)

“…A sample (100 g) of the green leaf was used for leaf area determination with the aid of an electronic planimeter. Capsule morphine concentration at dry maturity was determined using the method of Pride & Stern (1954). In the 1977-8 season, terminal and lateral capsule morphine concentrations were analysed separately.…”