Science in drug control: the alkaloid content of afghan opium.
Opium samples from Afghanistan were analyzed by HPLC for their content of morphine and three further alkaloids (codeine, thebaine, and papaverine). To our knowledge, this is the largest set of authentic opium samples analyzed in one study until now. The purpose was to assess possible correlations between samples and selected external factors, such as region of origin within Afghanistan, year of harvest, or intra-batch variation. In the investigated samples, a trend towards higher morphine concentrations in opium from the North-Eastern parts of Afghanistan was observed in the period from 2003 to 2005. More than 75% of the samples contained above 10% of morphine, the overall average was 14.4%.
Remberg
Barbara
B
Laboratory and Scientific Section, Division for Policy Analysis and Public Affairs, United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, P. O. Box 500, A-1400 Vienna.
Sterrantino
Anna Freni
AF
Artner
Robert
R
Janitsch
Christoph
C
Krenn
Liselotte
L
D000346:Afghanistan; D000470:Alkaloids / Q000032:analysis* / Q000737:chemistry*; D002980:Climate; D004335:Drug and Narcotic Control; D005308:Fertilizers; D015394:Molecular Structure; D009892:Opium / Q000032:analysis* / Q000737:chemistry*; D013997:Time Factors; D014867:Water / Q000737:chemistry
D000470:Alkaloids; D005308:Fertilizers; D014867:Water; D009892:Opium