engleski

The toxicology of opium poppy’s main alkaloids

Croatian cakes “makovnjača” and “međimurska gibanica”) as well as for edible oil production. The plant latex (milky sap), the primary opium extracted by scoring unripe capsules, contains up to 80 different alkaloids, and some of them are used in the pharmaceutical industry for the production of medicines (analgesics, sedatives, and antitussives), and unfortunately in drug abuse. Seeds of opium poppy plants, used in the pharmaceutical industry, serve as a by-product for food purposes. Mature poppy seeds do not contain latex but may be contaminated with alkaloids by pests and during harvest. Cases of alkaloid intoxication after consumption of poppy seeds in food are described in the scientific literature, but maximum levels have not been established in the EU by any Regulation. The European Commission published recommendations on good practice to prevent and reduce the presence of poppy seed’s alkaloids. Opium alkaloids are categorized into two main groups: phenanthrenes (morphine, codeine, thebaine, and oripavine) and benzylisoquinolines(papaverine and noscapine) acting via at least three types of receptors. The μ (mu) receptor plays a crucial role not only in opioid-induced analgesia but also in the unwanted actions of opioids. Toxicokinetic characteristics (ADMET) of main alkaloids will be presented and their side effects discussed with implications of gene polymorphisms of metabolized enzymes, and drug-drug interactions on toxicity outcomes. Thus, monitoring opioid alkaloids concentrations in poppy seeds is of great importance in public health protection.

food ; opioid alkaloids ; poppy seed ; side effects ; toxicology

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