Afim - Opium.

AFIM (OPIUM).

Ideal suicidal poison is Opium cause it induces painless death.

It is a true narcotic as it induces sleep and eliminates pain (analgesic).

Opium has high addiction potential.

Unripe fruit: - Lot of Opium and

Ripe fruit: - Traces of Opium.

Seeds of Opium are known as khus-khus.

Synonyms: - Ahiphenaka, Afim, Phaniphena, Nagaphena, Afoo, Niphen, Aphen, Aphook, Amala, Aphina, Aphayoona,

Latin name: - Papaver somniferum.

Family: - PAPAVERACEAE.

Marathi: - Afoo, Khus-khus;

Hindi: - Aphim;

English: - Opium, Pappy plant.

Classification: -

According to Ayurved: - Sthavara Vanaspatika Visha.

According to Modern: - Cerebral poison,

Neurotic poson,

Somniferous poison.

General description: - 1) Small plant 1-1.5 m. long;

2) Stem is smooth and hairy;

3) Leaves are long, rectangular with dentate margins;

4) Flowers are big in size and white or reddish in colour;

5) Fruits are just like pomegranate which ruptures automatically;

6) When the fruit is cut longitudinally, compartments are seen inside containing numerous seeds. These seeds are creamish with sweet taste and are called as Khus-khus.

7) Opium is the dried juice obtained by incision of the unripe capsule of white poppy, when the capsule is still on the plant. It is dark brown or black and has a peculiar odour and bitter taste.

Poisonous part: - Opium. 

Active principles: - Its alkaloids are classified into 2 groups: - 1) Phenanthrene.

2) Isoquinolone.

Phenanthrene: - a) Morphine – 10%,            b) Codeine – 0.5%, c) Thobaine – 0.3%.

Isoquinolone: - a) Papaverine (1%),              b) Narcotine – 6%.

Also synthetic derivatives such as Dionine and Heroin.

The crude Heroin is also called as ‘Brown sugar’.

Fatal dose: -

1)            Opium: - 2 gm.

2)            Morphine: - a) Orally: - 200-500 mg.

                            b) Paraentrally: - 80-100 mg.

3)   Cocaine: - 200-400 mg.

4)   Juncture: - 10 ml.

Fatal period: - 6-12 hrs.