Abstract
The Papaveraceae family has numerous plants, but Papaver somniferum is the major medicinal plant of interest. The poppy is grown in tropical as well as temperate climates over a period of 6–7 months. It is a multipurpose plant with leaves and seeds that serve as an edible food source, while the latex of the poppy capsule is of great medicinal value. Alkaloids of the poppy (numbering 80) are synthesized in the laticiferous system of the plant and are found abundantly in capsules, compared with the rest of the plant. Morphinan alkaloid concentration varies from 20% to 30% in Papaver somniferum, while thebaine is a major alkaloid in Papaver bracteatum. Extraction of opium by an excoriation of capsules is known for centuries and labor-intensive. Some peptides from nonpoppy sources (kratom, salvia) are also chemically related to opium. Dry poppy capsules (poppy straw) are now a major commercial source for opium globally.
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