Which type of alkaloid is found in the latex of poppy (Papaver somniferum)?
GeneralClass 12AllAnswered 27 Mar 2026
Answer
The latex of poppy (Papaver somniferum) contains morphine and related opiate alkaloids including codeine, thebaine, and papaverine. Morphine is the most abundant and medically significant alkaloid, comprising about 10-15% of the opium latex by dry weight. These alkaloids are stored in specialized latex-producing cells called laticifers found throughout the plant's tissues. When the unripe seed capsules are incised, a milky latex (opium) oozes out and dries into a brownish resin rich in these alkaloids. Morphine has been used medicinally for pain relief for centuries, while these compounds also have important pharmaceutical applications and unfortunately, potential for misuse.
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