Evaluation the Variation of Morphine Percentage in Different Turkish Opium Poppy (Papaver somniferum L.) Lines in Three Years

Abstract

Opium poppy (<em>Papaver somniferum </em>L.) has two major products: alkaloids in the capsules and the seeds. It is known that opium poppy today contains alkaloid in great quantities. Opiate alkaloids and their synthetic derivatives are widely used in medicines which are produced in hundreds of tons for the medicine industry. The study aimed to screen the capsules of six Turkish opium poppy lines to evaluate their morphine percentage. The trial was carried out at the Experimental Fields of the Agronomy Department, Faculty of Agriculture of Ankara University, Turkey during three years. All seeds were sown during first week of October and harvested during second week of July during three years of experimentation to investigate the variation of morphine content. During first year hairless stem and strong capsule types were selected and sown followed by. Alkaloid analysis was performed at the laboratory of the alkaloid factory at Bolvadin province of Turkey in three years. Morphine percentage of six different lines were determined. The results showed that the average of morphine contents of lines ranged 0.731-0.851%, 0,813-1,147% and 0.815-1.142% during 2010, 2011 and 2012 respectively. In conclusion, these opium poppy especially L₁ and L₂ lines could serve as major source of morphine in future.