Opium poppy (Papaver somniferum L.)

The opium poppy is an old cultural plant that was grown in the Mediterranean as early as in the 6^th millennium B.C. Ever effects of poppy alkaloids were known. For instance in the ancient Greece, poppy heads were an attribute of the god of sleep Hypnos and his son, god of dreams Morpheus, his brother god of death Thanatos and their mother, goddess of the night Nyx. Effects of opium on human organism were also described by Roman court physician Scribonius Largus at the beginning of the Christian Era.

Importance and seed composition:

There are two types of the opium poppy with different utilization properties:

Opium poppy has a very branched network of lactiferous cells in the poppy head walls. By their tapping and collecting of dry latex opium is obtained. The most important opium poppy cultivation areas are the Golden Triangle countries (Burma, Thailand, Laos), and Golden Crescent countries (Iran, Afghanistan, Pakistan).

Oil poppy is grown in this country as well as in many other European countries. This type is mainly used in households, and the food and oil industry. Only a small part of Czech poppy production is processed in the oil industry, a larger part is used in households or confectionery production, majority is exported. Seeds contain 40-55 % fat. Table oil is obtained by cold pressing and it becomes solid at the solidification point of 18 °C. Poppy seed butter is used a lot in some parts of France and Germany. By warm pressing or extraction semi-drying oil is obtained, used for the production of lacquers, varnishes, paints and soaps.

Poppy cake and extracted meal, by-products of oil extraction, can be used as livestock feed. They are relatively high in crude protein content (30-35 %), but low in mineral and vitamin content. Moreover, they contain alkaloids that may cause health disorders when fed at higher amounts (over 1-1.5 kg) and impair milk taste in lactating cows. In breeding males they exert adverse effect on sexual appetite.

Threshed poppy head with stalk 15 cm long at the most, called makovina, are used in the pharmaceutical industry to obtain alkaloids. Presence of alkaloids depends on poppy variety and a method and site of cultivation. About 60 different alkaloids have been gradually isolated. The highest are contents of codeine, tebain, noskapin also called narkotin and papaverin. Alkaloids are not present as free compounds but as salts of different acids. Morfin is a strong analgetic and inhibits the respiratory centre. It causes euphoria and is addictive. Kodein has similar effects as morfin, but it does not act on the respiratory centre and its euphorising effects are smaller. It smoothens cough by acting on the cough centre in the medulla oblongata. Noskapin (narkotin) influences cough in a similar way as codeine. Papaverin had no narcotic effects and do not act on the respiratory centre. It causes the relaxation of smooth muscle, therefore it is used as spasmolytic in colics and intestinal spasm associated with diarrhea.

Cultivation requirements:

Poppy has no special requirements for cultivation conditions, it only does not tolerate extremely light or heavy soils. However, it is very demanding for nutrients, including trace elements. The best previous crop are root crops fertilized with farmyard manure, legumes and clovers. The most commonly it is included after cereals. Poppy is regarded as “initial raw material – source“ of addictive (narcotic) drugs, therefore it is covered by the Act No. 167/98 Col. On addictive drugs, as amended, which stipulates the notification duty for persons cultivation poppy seed on an area over 100 m² and notification duty at the export and import of poppy heads.