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Planta Med 1984; 50(4): 343-345
DOI: 10.1055/s-2007-969727
Research Articles

© Georg Thieme Verlag Stuttgart · New York

A Second Pathway for the Terminal Steps in the Biosynthesis of Morphine

E. Brochmann-Hanssen
  • Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, University of California, San Francisco, California 94143, U.S.A.
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Publication History

1984

1984

Publication Date:
26 February 2007 (online)

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Abstract

[2-3H]Oripavine was administered to mature Papaver somniferum plants from two different chemical strains, one of which was known to contain oripavine. Morphinone was synthesized and used as carrier. Incorporation of oripavine into morphine was 28.1% and 21.4%, respectively. Morphinone decomposed during isolation, but the small amount isolated from one batch showed an incorporation of 4.5%. Thebaine and codeine were not radioactive. Therefore, the 3-O-demethylation of thebaine is not reversible. These results strongly suggest that oripavine represents a step on a second pathway from the baine to morphine.

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