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Morphinan Alkaloids: Biosynthesis in Plant (Papaver spp.) Tissue Cultures

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Medicinal and Aromatic Plants I

Part of the book series: Biotechnology in Agriculture and Forestry ((AGRICULTURE,volume 4))

Abstract

Papaver somniferum L. contains the medicinally important phenanthrene alkaloids codeine and morphine (Fig. 1). Codeine is widely used as a mild analgesic that is stronger than aspirin yet relatively nonaddictive. Its ability to relieve local irritation in the bronchial tract has made it an important component in many cough medicines. Morphine is about ten times as potent an analgesic as codeine and used only for severe pain because of its addictive character (Woolley and Woolley 1972).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biology, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN, 47405, USA

    K. K. Kamo

  2. Department of Agriculture, Florist and Nursery Crops, Beltsville, MD, 20705, USA

    P. G. Mahlberg

Authors
  1. K. K. Kamo
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  2. P. G. Mahlberg
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. A-137, New Friends Colony, New Delhi, 110065, India

    Y. P. S. Bajaj

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© 1988 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg

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Kamo, K.K., Mahlberg, P.G. (1988). Morphinan Alkaloids: Biosynthesis in Plant (Papaver spp.) Tissue Cultures. In: Bajaj, Y.P.S. (eds) Medicinal and Aromatic Plants I. Biotechnology in Agriculture and Forestry, vol 4. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-73026-9_13

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-73026-9_13

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-642-73028-3

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-642-73026-9

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