78 INDIAN MEDICINAL PLANTS, 



Chemistry. — 



i. The seeds are alkaloid-free. 



2. The alkaloids may be detected in minute quantity in seedlings, after 

 about 14 days' growth. 



3. From this point until tlie seeds begin to store albumin, an increase in 

 alkaloidal content takes places. 



4. This increase is not constant, bat varies with the intensity of illumina- 

 tion, under which the plant develops, long periods of overcast sky sufficing to 

 reduce the alkaloid content to a minimum. 



5. As the seeds ripen, the alkaloid content decreases. 



6. Daring the ripening of the seeds, the alkaloids are gradually consumed 

 by the plant in effecting albumin synthesis and cannot, therefore, be regarded 

 as products of excretion. 



7. It is probable that the decrease in alkaloid content, during cloudy 

 weather noted under (4), is due to similar causes, namely, alkaloid consumption 

 by the plant for albumin synthesis during failing light. 



(Chemical Abstracts, Jan. 10, 1915, p. 94.) 



Formation and distribution of certain alkaloids in it. 



The alkaloids appear in the following order, narcotine, codeine, morphine, 

 papaverine, thebaine, the first four being found when the plant is only 5-7 

 cm. high. The flowering plant, up till the time of ripening, contains narco= 

 tine, papaverine, codeine, and morphine in all its organs, with the exception 

 of the hairs. The latex varies in composition in different parts of the plant. 

 Narcotine, codeine and morphine are found in all the organs of the ripe plant. 

 Narcotine is produced— from the albumin of the seeds, and is found in seeds 

 which have germinated in nitrogen-free soil. This alkaloid is present in 

 moderate amount in very young plants ; the quantity is much greater in the 

 flower-heads than in the unripe seed-capsules. J. Oh. I. 31. 12, 1910, p. 147 1. 



It is known that opium is more active therapeutically than 

 its morphine content would indicate- Experiments are now 

 described, indicating that this is due to the narcotine contained 

 in the opium. The effect is not of an additive character, but 

 apparently the narcotine strengthens the narcotic and tonic 

 action of the morphine and lessens the injurious action of the 

 latter on the respiratory centre. The most effective mixture 

 appears to be one of equimolecular quantities of the two alka- 

 loids. J. Ch. I. 31. 7. 1912, p. 700. 



61. P. Orientale, Linn, h.f.b.l, i. 117, 

 Cultivated in Gardens. 



Two alkaloids, thebaine and isothebaine, have been isolated. During 

 May and June, the period of most rapid growth, thebaine is largely produced, 

 while isothebaine is found mainly in the root during late fall, and after ripen- 

 ing and drying of the aerial plant. 



