Botanical Name: Papaver Somniferum
Family Name: Papaveraceae
Kingdom: Plantae
Division: Magnoliophyta
Class: Magnoliopsida
Order: Ranunculales
Family: Papaveraceae
Genus: Papaver
Species: P. somniferum
Popular Names: Poppy Seeds, Aphium Opium Poppy, White Poppy, Posta, Plant of Joy, Mawseed, Common Garden Poppy
Parts Used: Seeds, Flowers
Habitat: Cultivated on large scale in India, at an altitude of 1500m – 2100m
Description
The term papaver somniferum means the “sleep bringing poppy”, which refers to the narcotic property of some of the opiates. Also known as opium poppy, it is an annual plant reaching 3 to 5 feet height. It bears brilliant white, pink, purple and red flowers, grown on a central bulbous pod. When scratched, the pod produces milky latex called opium, which contains a variety of opiates, including codeine and morphine. The leaves are alternate, simple, clasping and toothed. Fruits are like a capsule, with an expanded disc at the top and over small holes. Minute seeds are dispersed through the small holes. Poppy is widely grown as an ornamental flower throughout Europe, North America, South America and Asia. Australia, Turkey and India are the major producers of opium poppy. Live opium poppy plants and seeds are sold widely by seed companies and nurseries in the western world, including the United States.
Plant Chemicals
(+)- morphine, thebaine, codeine, oripavine. moisture, 4.3-5.2; protein, 22.3-24.4; ether extract 46.5-49.1; nitrogen-free extract, 11.7-14.3; crude fibre, 4.8-5.8; ash, 5.6-6.0; calcium, 1.03-1.45; phosphorous, 0.79-0.89%; iron, 8.5-11.1 mg/100 g; thiamine, 740-1,181; riboflavin, 765-1,203; and nicotinic acid, 800-1,280 mg/100 g; carotene is absent, iodine, 6 mg/kg; manganese, 29 mg/kg; copper, 22.9 mg/kg; magnesium, 15.6 g/kg; sodium, 0.3 g/kg; potassium, 5.25 g/kg; and zinc, 130 mg/kg; lecithin, 2.80%; oxalic acid, 1.62%; pentosans, 3.0-3.6%; traces of narcotine and an amorphous alkaloid; and the enzymes diastase, emulsin, lipase, and nuclease. Poppyseed oil cakes are estimated to have 88 feed units per 100 kg, 27.5% digestible crude protein and 25.6% digestible true protein. Per 100 g the seed is reported to contain 533 calories, 6.8 g H2O, 18.0 g protein, 44.7 g fat, 23.7 g total carbohydrate, 6.3 g fiber, 6.8 g ash, 1448 mg Ca, 848 mg P, 9.4 mg Fe, 21 mg Na, 700 mg K, a trace of b-carotene equivalent, 0.95 mg thiamine, 0.17 mg riboflavin, and 0.98 mg niacin.
Uses and Benefits of Poppy
- Poppy is widely used for medicinal purposes, in the form of poppy-based drugs like morphine, codeine, narcotine, laudenine, papaverine and other alkaloids.
- Poppy-based medicines are considered the most effective way of relieving severe pain.
- It is a stimulant that induces euphoria and helps get rid of anxieties, tensions, fears and inhibitions.
- Poppy seeds contain cough suppressant and analgesic properties and are often recommended to relieve minor pains.
- The plant is used to treat intestinal stomach spasms and respiratory spasms triggered by asthmatic attacks.
- It is used to remedy bladder, bruises, cancer, cold, catarrh, colic, conjunctivitis, diarrhoea, dysentery, enteritis, fever, flux, headache, hemicrania, hypertension, hypochondria, hysteria, inflammation, insomnia, malaria, mania, melancholy, nausea, neuralgia, otitis, prolapse, rheumatism, snakebites, sprains, swelling, toothaches, tumors, ulcers and warts.
- Opium poppy is used to treat the cancers of the skin, stomach, tongue, uterus, spleen, breast, ear, nose and vagina.
- It is frequently administered to relieve pain and calm excitement.
- The plant provides two main food ingredients, namely poppy seed and poppy seed oil.
- The seeds do not contain opium and are extensively used in baking and sprinkling on rolls and bread.
- Poppy seeds are a source of a drying oil that is used for manufacturing paints, varnishes and soaps.
- Its oil cakes serve as a fodder for cattle.
Caution
A high dose of opium poppy is highly addictive and can decrease respiration.
