The Opium Poppy, also known as Papaver somniferum, grows mainly in dry & warm climates. The color of the flowers of this plant is red and purple and they mainly grow across southern Asia from Turkey through Pakistan and Laos, where the weather conditions are more favorable for their cultivation . In the US, it is mostly grown in South America. It belongs to family Papaveraceae, Genus Papaver, and species somniferum.
Some people may question the legality of opium poppy because as most people know, the drug derived from the flower is heroin. There is a process in which three months after the poppy seeds are planted, the flowers bloom in bright red and purple. When the flower petals fall off, the seedpod is exposed, and inside of it is sap which contains isoquinoline alkaloids . Opium contains 20 – 25 % alkaloids and the total alkaloid content is dependent upon parameters such as the variety, condition of soils, location, weather and time of harvesting. Alkaloid contains a double carbon ring with one nitrogen atom. The alkaloid contains pain relieving and sleeps inducing properties and is extremely addictive. Poppy seeds may contain morphine, codeine and thebaine, in variable amounts . The seeds from various sources, may contain a wide range of morphine (2-251g/g) and codeine (0.4 – 57.1 g/g) . Morphine is considered as the most effective pain killer and codeine is widely used as an analgesic in surgeries. At first the color is milky-white and as it comes out of the pod from oxidation and solidification in the air it turns black-brown and the texture becomes thicker. Morphine is modified to produce heroin.
Poppy seeds commonly used in baked products such as bagels, cakes, pastries, and even macaroons and to produce oil. It is also used as a condiment or an ingredient for decoration in some food items. While the opium poppy plant contains opiates, the poppy seeds do not contain alkaloids. They may, however, get contaminated during harvesting, or due to insects . As a result, they may cause a positive reaction in urine tests for drugs . Opiate urine tests had a threshold of 300ng/ml which was raised to 4000ng/ml for morphine and 2000ng/ml for codeine by US department of Defense, due to the occurrence of false-positive results . Hence, it is advisable for the sportsman to be cautious about eating poppy seeds in large amounts before their games, since the consumption of narcotics is illegal, before playing any sports.
Poppy seeds are obtained from the seed pod of the poppy flower. These Poppy seeds are considered to be extremely healthy and a rich source of anti-oxidants, which are known to possess infection preventing and health promoting properties . Antioxidants obtained from poppy seeds inhibit the reactive oxygen species, reduce the rancidity and extend the shelf life of several foods. Poppy seed oil is extracted from the small seeds of poppy flowers. This oil is rich in oleic and linoleic acids. Oleic acid helps lower bad cholesterol and helps increase good cholesterol levels in the blood . It also helps in prevention of breast cancer by inhibiting the Her-2/neu gene. They are a good source of dietary fiber, which increases the bulk of the food and prevents constipation. Poppy seeds also contain good amounts of minerals like iron and copper, which are essential for red blood cell production, calcium, potassium, manganese, zinc and magnesium, are all necessary for the regulation of growth and development, generation of sperm, and digestion. They are also used in treating several diseases like diarrhea, asthma, insomnia and stomach disorders. It is also used as a relaxant and to cure insomnia
There is a great deal of confusion worldwide regarding the legal use of poppy seeds. In Kuwait, the use of poppy seeds in food is banned. In reality, the poppy seeds themselves are very legal and omnipresent . Poppy seeds are sold abundantly in grocery stores in U.S and comprise of low levels of psychoactive opiates. The flowers of the plant are largely used for ornamental purposes. However, the process used to convert the sap from the plant into heroin is very illegal and is being sold by the brokers in the U.S. in millions of dollars. Although its cultivation is banned in many countries like Burma, Unites States and Germany, it is manufactured and recognized as a medicinal crop in many countries . Opium poppies and its derivatives such as Heroin are listed in the US Controlled Substances Act, Schedule I and II. Special government licenses are used to legally grow opium for commercial pharmaceutical use in several countries . The Opium Poppy control Act of 1942 declared that the plant should be considered illegal, although some farmers may still obtain the permit from the state . Some level of ambiguity and controversy still remains in this aspect of law.
REFERENCES
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