The idea for the topic of this blog originates from my, already for a very long time, favorite plant: the papaver somniferum (Opium Poppy) and this is not only due to the beautiful flowers, but also because this plant contains some interesting chemicals (alkaloids). These alkaloids are located in the milky sap, called opium, which appears when an incision is made into an unripe capsule (see picture). The major alkaloid from opium is morphine, which is used in medicine for its sleep-inducing (narcotic) and pain reducing (analgesic) characteristics. Some people are questioning the use of such chemicals for clinical reason because the chemicals are very addictive and it seems you always need a higher dose to get the same effect (tolerance), anyway, medical use will generally not lead to big problems. Besides this medical use of the Opium Poppy, which is legal, there is an illegal way to use this plant, mostly in the form of heroin, a hard drug derived from morphine. That is why the cultivation of this beautiful, but potentially dangerous plant needs to be under strict control.
Veronique Uytterhoeven
Dear Veronique,
BeantwoordenVerwijderenI loved your blog! As a chemist student, it is fun to know there are other persons who are ‘interested’ in drugs. Did you actually know that it is very easy to synthesize heroin: you take the morphine, threat it with acetic anhydride (a kind of double acetic acid), purify your product and, simple as that, your heroin is ready to be sold on the black market.
I also liked the beautiful and scientific language you used. The flow in your blog is also pleasant. Only in the ending of the fourth sentence, there is a minor disruption in that flow, but it is hardly something to take about.
What I remember from this blog is that it has an interesting topic and a good structure: you introduce it nice, have a well built middle and a strong ending. Yes, I loved it.
Bo Van de Moortel
The idea for the topic of this blog originates from my, already for a very long time, favorite plant: the papaver somniferum (Opium Poppy) and this is not only due to the beautiful flowers, but also because this plant contains some interesting chemicals (alkaloids). These alkaloids are located in the milky sap, called opium, which appears when an incision is made into an unripe capsule (see picture). The major alkaloid from opium is morphine, which is used in medicine for its sleep-inducing (narcotic) and pain reducing (analgesic) characteristics. Some people are questioning the use of such chemicals for clinical reason [reasons] because the chemicals are very addictive and it seems you always need a higher dose to get the same effect (tolerance), anyway, medical use will generally not lead to big problems. Besides [beside] this medical use of the Opium Poppy, which is legal, there is an illegal way to use this plant, mostly in the form of heroin, a hard drug derived from morphine. That is why the cultivation of this beautiful, but potentially dangerous plant needs to be under strict control.
BeantwoordenVerwijderenGood flow, minor errors.
well done,
olaf