Papaver Somniferum: Poppy Plant and Its Uses

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3 Mar 2024

PAPAVER SOMNİFERUM

Papaver somniferum is a plant species from the Papaver genus in the poppy family. Papaver somniferum likes places with moderate rainfall and hot summers. It is thought that its homeland is the Eastern Mediterranean. It has been cultivated in India and Anatolia for a long time. In Latin, "Papaver" means poppy plant and "somniferum" means sleep-inducing, dream-making. The drug called opium is extracted from the capsule of the poppy, and the edible oil called poppy oil is extracted from the seeds.

Papaver somniferum is an annual plant. Its length usually varies between 30 and 100 cm. Its leaves are hairy and gray-green in color and have wavy edges. The flowers are generally large and showy. Their colors can vary from white to dark purple.
The most important chemical components of the Papaver somniferum plant are alkaloids. These include morphine, codeine, thebaine and papaverine. These alkaloids have narcotic properties and are used for medicinal purposes.

Papaver somniferum is important in the medical field for its analgesic properties. Alkaloids, especially morphine and codeine, are used in the production of painkillers.
In some regions, opium is produced by collecting the gum of the poppy plant. These substances can be used for recreational and narcotic purposes, but are generally illegal.
Poppy seeds are used in some cuisines, especially as an ingredient in various dishes, breads and desserts.
The capsule, which is the fruit of the plant, contains many seeds. Poppy oil makes up 40-45% of the seeds. Poppy oil is a high quality, edible, vegetable oil. After the oil of the seeds is extracted, the remaining pulp is used as animal feed and increases the fat content in the animal's milk.

Papaver somniferum and its derivatives are subject to strict regulations in many countries. Due to its alkaloid content, its medicinal and narcotic uses are strictly regulated. In some countries, poppy cultivation is banned or allowed in a controlled manner. Papaver somniferum has been an important plant to humans throughout history, but is tightly controlled due to its potential for abuse. Poppy cultivation is carried out in Turkey, India, Australia, France, Spain and Hungary as legal main producers under the supervision of the United Nations. Additionally, Turkey and India are recognized as traditional poppy producing countries by the United Nations.

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