Isolierung und Chemie der Alkaloide aus Pflanzen der Papaveraceae, LXXXI*

Abstract

On the basis of alkaloidal, morphological and chromosomal studies, the section Mecones Bernh. (Syn.: Papaver L., sect. Papaver) has been subdivided into two sections. Thus the new section Glauca J. Novak includes the species Papaver glaucum Boiss. et Hausskn., P. gracile Auch. and P. decaisnei Hochst. et Steud., whereas the section mecones Bernh. only the species P. somniferum L. and P. setigerum Dc. The major alkaloids of the species of the section mecones are the morphinane alkaloids morphine and codeine, whereas those of the section Glauca the rhoeadine and the papaverrubines. The section mecones has the basic chromosome number x = 11, and the section Glauca x = 7. The basic chromosome numbers have been correlated with the morphological features.

Alkaloid content of Papaver somniferum subsp. setigerum from New Zealand

“…setigerum to accumulate morphine and codeine, possibly in sufficient quantity to be of interest to users of illicit drugs. They support previous findings of morphine in this subspecies (e.g., Preininger et al 1981). Accordingly it seems appropriate that the New Zealand Misuse of Drugs Act (1975) prohibits possession of P. somniferum without specifying subspecies.…”

Alkaloids from Papaver setigerum

“…[2][3][4] Of the genus Papaver, only the opium poppy (P. somniferum L.) and P. setigerum D. C. are able to produce the narcotic substances such as morphine, codeine and thebaine as their secondary metabolites. Although morphine is the most powerful pain-killer, it also has very strong addictive properties.…”

The Rhoeadine Alkaloids

“…All the sections of Papaver contain rhoeadines and / or papaverrubines, but the abundance and distribution of the different alkaloids varies considerably from one section to another. Thus, the relative abundance of rhoeadines and papaverrubines vs. morphine alkaloids in the species of the morphologically heterogeneous section Mecones Bernh. has led to the segregation of the new section Glauca J. Novák, supported by chromosome counts and a reevaluation of morphological features (46). Twenty-one of the compounds are known as natural products, and no new ones have been reported in recent years.…”