24
2
Opium is also a good example for the difficult interplay between recreational and
medicinal application. Opium was already known to ancient Greek and Roman physicians as a powerful pain reliever, and the properties of opium in alleviating depression
and pain are also well recorded in ancient texts including Homers Odyssey. In the Middle
Ages, people started extracting the alkaloids from opium using alcohol. Concoctions such
as the original laudanum mixed opium with other ingredients of questionable activity
before cleaner, more standardized mixtures were developed. The extraction and subsequent identification of morphine as the principal active ingredient of opium (Sertürner
1805), followed by codeine and thebaine, then allowed the production of cleaner, much
more potent drugs for both medicinal purposes and abuse. By the end of the nineteenth
century, the synthesis of heroin from morphine then gave rise to an even more potent
drug with high addictive potential (Wright 1874). While the use of opium and its derivatives is now outlawed in most countries, the seeds of the opium poppy are still used in
cooking and backing. These seeds do not normally contain opium but can become contaminated during processing of seed pods. And while the amount of opium found in the
quantities of the seeds used for food purposes is extremely small, it may produce positive
drug test results.
References
Blegen EP (1936) Excavations at Gazi, Crete. Am J Archaeol 40:371–373
Brunschwig H (1500) Liber de arte distillandi, de simplicibus: Buch der rechten kunst zü distilieren die
eintzige[n] ding. Johann Grüninger, Strasbourg
Coupland JN, Hayes JE (2014) Physical approaches to masking bitter taste: lessons from food and pharmaceuticals. Pharm Res 31(11):2921–2939
Drewnowski A, Gomez-Carneros C (2000) Bitter taste, phytonutrients, and the consumer: a review. Am J
Clin Nutr 72(6):1424–1435
Ebbell B (1937) The Papyrus Ebers: the greatest Egyptian medical document. Oxford University Press,
London
Box 2.1 The Poppy Goddess
Archaeologist recovered a statue from a subterranean chamber in Gazi, Crete, that is believed to
have originated in the late Minoan III time. The trance-like facial expression and three pin-like
extensions on its head that resemble poppy capsules lead to the suggestion that his was used in
ritual or spiritual ceremonies (Blegen 1936; Marinatos 1937). Finds of paraphernalia that might
have been used for opium inhalation strengthen the connection between the “Poppy Goddess”
and the use of opium probably to induce a hallucinating state (Kritikos and Papadaki 1967; Merlin
1984).
Take-Home Message
5 Secondary metabolites provide the major basis of herbal medicine, which has
been exploited by humans for thousands of years. Probably for as long, the
psychoactive properties of plant-derived drugs have been exploited for religious ceremonies and recreational use.
5 Preservation of plant diversity together with new methods of bioprospecting will
help to retain and further exploit the richness of plant secondary metabolites.
Chapter 2 · Historical and Current Perspective
2
Opium is also a good example for the difficult interplay between recreational and
medicinal application. Opium was already known to ancient Greek and Roman physicians as a powerful pain reliever, and the properties of opium in alleviating depression
and pain are also well recorded in ancient texts including Homers Odyssey. In the Middle
Ages, people started extracting the alkaloids from opium using alcohol. Concoctions such
as the original laudanum mixed opium with other ingredients of questionable activity
before cleaner, more standardized mixtures were developed. The extraction and subsequent identification of morphine as the principal active ingredient of opium (Sertürner
1805), followed by codeine and thebaine, then allowed the production of cleaner, much
more potent drugs for both medicinal purposes and abuse. By the end of the nineteenth
century, the synthesis of heroin from morphine then gave rise to an even more potent
drug with high addictive potential (Wright 1874). While the use of opium and its derivatives is now outlawed in most countries, the seeds of the opium poppy are still used in
cooking and backing. These seeds do not normally contain opium but can become contaminated during processing of seed pods. And while the amount of opium found in the
quantities of the seeds used for food purposes is extremely small, it may produce positive
drug test results.
References
Blegen EP (1936) Excavations at Gazi, Crete. Am J Archaeol 40:371–373
Brunschwig H (1500) Liber de arte distillandi, de simplicibus: Buch der rechten kunst zü distilieren die
eintzige[n] ding. Johann Grüninger, Strasbourg
Coupland JN, Hayes JE (2014) Physical approaches to masking bitter taste: lessons from food and pharmaceuticals. Pharm Res 31(11):2921–2939
Drewnowski A, Gomez-Carneros C (2000) Bitter taste, phytonutrients, and the consumer: a review. Am J
Clin Nutr 72(6):1424–1435
Ebbell B (1937) The Papyrus Ebers: the greatest Egyptian medical document. Oxford University Press,
London
Box 2.1 The Poppy Goddess
Archaeologist recovered a statue from a subterranean chamber in Gazi, Crete, that is believed to
have originated in the late Minoan III time. The trance-like facial expression and three pin-like
extensions on its head that resemble poppy capsules lead to the suggestion that his was used in
ritual or spiritual ceremonies (Blegen 1936; Marinatos 1937). Finds of paraphernalia that might
have been used for opium inhalation strengthen the connection between the “Poppy Goddess”
and the use of opium probably to induce a hallucinating state (Kritikos and Papadaki 1967; Merlin
1984).
Take-Home Message
5 Secondary metabolites provide the major basis of herbal medicine, which has
been exploited by humans for thousands of years. Probably for as long, the
psychoactive properties of plant-derived drugs have been exploited for religious ceremonies and recreational use.
5 Preservation of plant diversity together with new methods of bioprospecting will
help to retain and further exploit the richness of plant secondary metabolites.
Chapter 2 · Historical and Current Perspective