J. J. Kettenes-van den Bosch, C. Salemink, I. Khan
1981
Citations
0
Influential Citations
24
Citations
Journal
Journal of ethnopharmacology
Abstract
Thebaine is the main alkaloid found in P. bracteatum Lindl. Many minor alkaloids are present. To date 31 have been identified, some by chromatography and mass spectrometry only. They represent 10 of the 14 alkaloid classes found in the genus Papaver (structures and classes are given in Fig. 1). Many of them occur in other plant species, sometimes as the main alkaloid. The biological activity of the following alkaloids has been reported in the literature: codeine, thebaine, isothebaine, (—)-nuciferine, protopine, tetrahydropalmatine, and coptisine. The biological activity of codeine has not been reviewed here because it is an established drug and its pharmacology has been reviewed in the literature. Thebaine and isothebaine are both narcotics and analgesics. However, their therapeutic utility is limited because of their high toxicity and severe side-effects. Thebaine produced congenital malformations in a small number of test animals after a single injection of a high dosage. It has a limited dependence capacity. (—)-Nuciferine is a CNS depressant. Its action strongly resembles that of chlorpromazine. In a chronic toxicity test it caused liver and kidney damage in dogs. Protopine has a sedative effect in test animals. It has bactericidal and cytotoxic properties, but is inactive against carcinomas in vivo.