Morphine and codeine are derived from which plant?

Morphine and codeine are derived from which plant?

• A. The opium poppy
• B. The cannabis plant
• C. The coca plant
• D. The tobacco plant

Answer: (A)

Morphine and codeine come from the opium poppy, Papaver somniferum. The latex from the plant’s unripe seed capsules is processed to produce opium, which contains several alkaloids, with morphine as the primary active one and codeine as another major alkaloid. Morphine is a strong pain reliever, while codeine is milder and is converted to morphine in the body to produce its effects. Other plants like cannabis, coca, and tobacco do not produce these opioids—they’re sources of cannabinoids, cocaine, and nicotine, respectively. So the plant in question is the opium poppy.

Morphine and codeine come from the opium poppy, Papaver somniferum. The latex from the plant’s unripe seed capsules is processed to produce opium, which contains several alkaloids, with morphine as the primary active one and codeine as another major alkaloid. Morphine is a strong pain reliever, while codeine is milder and is converted to morphine in the body to produce its effects. Other plants like cannabis, coca, and tobacco do not produce these opioids—they’re sources of cannabinoids, cocaine, and nicotine, respectively. So the plant in question is the opium poppy.