Science in Drug Control: The Alkaloid Content of Afghan Opium

Abstract

Opium samples from Afghanistan were analyzed by HPLC for their content of morphine and three further alkaloids (codeine, thebaine, and papaverine). To our knowledge, this is the largest set of authentic opium samples analyzed in one study until now. The purpose was to assess possible correlations between samples and selected external factors, such as region of origin within Afghanistan, year of harvest, or intra-batch variation. In the investigated samples, a trend towards higher morphine concentrations in opium from the North-Eastern parts of Afghanistan was observed in the period from 2003 to 2005. More than 75% of the samples contained above 10% of morphine, the overall average was 14.4%.

Passive opium smoking does not have beneficial effect on plasma lipids and cardiovascular indices in hypercholesterolemic rabbits with ischemic and non-ischemic hearts

“…Analysis of this opium by GC-mass spectrometry showed; alkaloids are more than 30% (from which morphine 16%, codeine 5.5%, thebaine 4.4%, papaverine 3.2% were the most abundant of them) and the rest consisted of non-alkaloidal organic and non-organic substances from which 13.5% was water (moisture). This composition was similar to that reported by Remberga et al (2008) about the alkaloid content of Afghan opium from that region.…”

Opium Effect in Pregnancy on the Dynamics of Maternal Behavior: Testing a Neurochemical Model

“…Available water (moisture) was 15%. This alkaloid content was similar to the study by Remberga et al [40] on Afghanistan’s alkaloid opium content.…”

“…Available water (moisture) was 15%. This alkaloid content was similar to the study by Remberga et al [40] on Afghanistan's alkaloid opium content. At the end of the study, blood samples were taken from the heart of the animals for measurement of the level of corticosterone using the ELISA kit.…”