Morphine-free poppy holds key to new pain-killers

LONDON – Australian scientists have discovered how a naturally morphine-free poppy blocks production of the narcotic, in a finding that could lead to the development of more effective drugs.

The opium poppy is the source of codeine, morphine and other analgesics, as well as opium and heroin. But the mutant poppy known as top1 produces neither morphine nor codeine.In a report in the science journal Nature on Wednesday, researchers at the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) in Australia describe how the plant makes precursors of the narcotics which have been developed into new synthetic analgesics.”We are already using this knowledge to produce other designer changes in poppies to serve human pharmaceutical needs better,” Dr Philip Larkin, of CSIRO, said in an interview.”The new poppy variation can produce, at very high yield, thebaine and oripavine (rather than morphine and codeine).These two alkaloids are preferred starting points for the subsequent manufacture of a new generation powerful analgesics.”Alkaloids are organic compounds from plants which are used as drugs.The drugs derived from the plant include buprenorphine and oxycodone, which are safer and better-tolerated by patients than morphine and codeine.- Nampa-ReutersBut the mutant poppy known as top1 produces neither morphine nor codeine.In a report in the science journal Nature on Wednesday, researchers at the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) in Australia describe how the plant makes precursors of the narcotics which have been developed into new synthetic analgesics.”We are already using this knowledge to produce other designer changes in poppies to serve human pharmaceutical needs better,” Dr Philip Larkin, of CSIRO, said in an interview.”The new poppy variation can produce, at very high yield, thebaine and oripavine (rather than morphine and codeine).These two alkaloids are preferred starting points for the subsequent manufacture of a new generation powerful analgesics.”Alkaloids are organic compounds from plants which are used as drugs.The drugs derived from the plant include buprenorphine and oxycodone, which are safer and better-tolerated by patients than morphine and codeine.- Nampa-Reuters