The alkaloids of Papaver somniferum L.—VII
1968; Elsevier BV; Volume: 7; Issue: 12 Linguagem: Inglês
10.1016/s0031-9422(00)85665-4
ISSN1873-3700
AutoresJ W Fairbairn, M. Djoté, Anna T. Paterson,
Tópico(s)Alkaloids: synthesis and pharmacology
ResumoEarlier work on the biosynthesis of alkaloids by poppy latex has been criticised on the grounds that the final products owed their radioactivity to contamination with the precursor. In the present work, not only has the extent of contamination been studied, but radioactive 3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine has been found to be much more efficiently incorporated into the alkaloids than is tyrosine or glucose. It was therefore possible to isolate substantial quantities of radioactive morphine whose purity was established by radioactive measurements after re-crystallisation, formation of diacetyl derivative and picrate, and by radioisotope dilution techniques. Four other alkaloids were also shown to be radioactive though not with such certainty. The fact that such sophisticated syntheses take place in isolated latex indicates that the latter is cytoplasmic with adequate organelle activity.
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