78 
INDIAN MEDICINAL PLANTS. 
Chemistry . — , 
1. The seeds are alkaloid-free. 
2. The alkaloids may be detected in minnte quantity in seedlings, after 
about 14 days’ growth. 
3. From this point until the seeds begin to store albumin, an increase in 
alkaloidal content tabes places. 
4. This increase is not constant, but 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. During the ripeuing of the seeds, the alkaloids are gradually consumed 
by the plant in effecting albumin synthesis and cannot, therefore, be regarded 
ds 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. Ch. I. 31. 12, 1910, p. 1471. 
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. Orientate, Linn, h.f.b.i., 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. 
