Papaveraceae (Poppy family)- Introduction

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PAPAVERACEAE
(Poppy family)



The family mostly consists of annual or perennial herbs with milky or coloured latex. Poppy family is represented by about 26 genera and 280 species distributed chiefly in Northern Hemisphere. Western North America and East Asia are the main centres of its distribution. Representatives of this family also occur in Europe, South Africa, Australia and even in Arctic regions.
Only about 5 genera and 20 species have been reported from India. 
Some selected genera of this family are: 
  • Argemone, 
  • Eschscholzia, 
  • Papaver, 
  • Meconopsis with about 26 species grows wild in some parts of Himalayas, 
  • Argemone Mexicana occurs wild in waste fields , while Papaver somniferum (opium poppy) is cultivated widely in India. The drug "opium" is obtained by cutting notches in the half ripened capsules, from which the latex exudes.

ECONOMIC IMPORTANCE


    1. Opium poppy (Papaver somniferum), cultivated in the warmer countries for the drug opium, is the most important plant of this family. Opium is obtained from milky latex of unripe capsules of the plant. Morphine content ranges from 5-6% in unripe fruits, while only 0.8-1% in ripe fruits. Morphine, codeine, narcotise and papaverine are some of the alkaloids present in this milky latex. Opium is known for its sedative properties and its high doses first produce sleep and then depression, paralysis, unconsciousness and ultimately death.
    2. The seeds of Papaver somniferum contain no opium, and are used in baking and are sprinkled on bread.
    3. An edible oil, obtained from the seeds of P. somniferum is used in the preparation of animal and human foods, and also in the manufacture of soaps, paints and varnishes.
    4. Wrapping paper is prepared from the pulp obtained from opium poppy.
    5. Family is known for its popular garden plants, such as Eschscholzia Californica (Californian poppy), Argemone Mexicana (prickly poppy), Macleaya cordite (plume poppy), Meconopsis (blue poppy), Dendromecon rigida (Bush poppy), Sanguinaria canadensis (blood root) and Chelidonium (Celandine).
    6. True poppies are species of Papaver such as P. nudicaule (Iceland poppy, orange red flowers), P. orientale (oriental poppy, bright red flowers), P.rhoeas (corn poppy, red or deep purple flowers), etc.
    7. A non-edible oil, obtained from the seeds of Argemone mexicana, is used as an illuminant and in skin infections. It is mixed to adulterate mustard oil.
    8. An emetic drug, 'Sanguarine', is obtained from the rhizome and roots of Sanguinaria canadensis. It is used in dyspepsia i.e. indigestion.

 




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