GAS-CHROMATOGRAPHIC MASS-SPECTROMETRIC DETECTION OF NARCOTINE, PAPAVERINE, AND THEBAINE IN SEEDS OF PAPAVER-SOMNIFERUM

In addition to codeine and morphine, three more compounds: narcotine ( noscapine), papaverine, and thebaine were found in Indian and Netherla nds poppy seeds (Papaver somniferum L.). The compounds were detected b y a GC/MS technique and the identities were confirmed by comparing ret ention times and ion ratios with the known references. The concentrati ons of codeine, morphine, thebaine, papaverine, and narcotine were 44, 167, 41, 67, and 230 mu g/g in Indian poppy seeds, and were 1.8, 39, 1.0, 0.17, 0.84 mu g/g in Netherlands poppy seeds, respectively. Becau se these compounds may be urinary products after poppy seed consumptio n, the lowest detectable concentrations of codeine, morphine, thebaine , papaverine, and narcotine in urine are of interest and were found to be 4, 4, 6, 0.4, and 4 ng/ml, respectively. The detection of urinary narcotine, papaverine, or thebaine may be utilized to differentiate po ppy seed consumption from illicit codeine, morphine, or heroin use.