Development of an Analytical Method for Morphinanes Determination in Poppy Seeds – Parametric Study and Limits of Applicability

Aswathy Vinod

Master's thesis

Abstract:

The thesis aims to develop and validate an analytical method to determine the quantity of the various alkaloids present in poppy seeds collected from the opium poppy (Papaver somniferum L.). Despite the ban on poppy seeds in several countries due to major concerns owing to the trace presence of opium alkaloids, they are still widely used in the food and pharmaceutical industries. Therefore, it is imperative to understand the level of contamination of opium alkaloids (Morphine, Codeine, Thebaine, Noscapine and Papaverine) and develop methods to analyse the levels of alkaloids in poppy seeds while finding various techniques to reduce these levels to ensure adherence to European Commission Regulation (EC) No 1881/2006. The thesis focuses on conducting experimental studies on various samples of poppy seeds by combining High-Performance Liquid Chromatography with detection by Mass Spectrometry. The study is also devoted to experimenting with varying parameters of temperature, UV-irradiation, treatment with hydrogen peroxide, exposure to microwave and pH value of the environment to see the effects on the content of the contaminant of alkaloids present on the surface of the poppy seeds. The values of alkaloids present in some of the varieties of poppy seeds did not comply with EC No 1881/2006. It was observed that there was no significant difference in levels of alkaloids extracted from the whole and ground samples of poppy seeds. Furthermore, the pH value can significantly influence the concentration of morphinans extracted from the surface of the poppy seeds. Treating the poppy seeds at temperatures above 220°C substantially reduces the concentration of opium alkaloids. While treating the samples under UV-C irradiation, there was a slight reduction in the alkaloid content. Treating poppy seeds with H2O2 vapours was found to be more effective than liquid H2O2 in reducing the concentration of opium alkaloids.

Keywords

Morphine, Alkaloids, Morphinans, Papaver somniferum, HPLC-MS, Codeine, Thebaine, Noscapine, Papaverine

Language used: English

Date on which the thesis was submitted / produced: 18. 4. 2023

Thesis defence

• Date of defence: 15. 5. 2023
• Supervisor: doc. Ing. Petr Kačer, Ph.D.
• Reader: Tereza Kačerová, Ing., externi

Czech University of Life Sciences Prague

Faculty of Agrobiology, Food and Natural Resources

Master programme:
Sustainable Agriculture and Food Security