ABSTRACT
The opium poppy Papaver somniferum is a multipurpose crop which is used as a medicinal or ornamental plant, as well as a source for seeds and seed oil. Morphine, codeine, thebaine, narcotine and papaverine are the most important alkaloids produced by the plant and are exploited by the pharmaceutical industry as analgesics, anti-tussives and anti-spasmodics.
