Tuesday Lecture – Psychoactive and Poisonous Plants

1. Tuesday Lecture – Psychoactive and Poisonous Plants Reading: Textbook, Chapter 12 Exam 2 next Tuesday

2. Quiz

3. Quiz • What plant (common or scientific name) is the source of steroidal compounds that were used to produce the first oral contraceptives as well as forming the material make other steroidal drugs? • Cocaine and marijuana are two widely used psychoactive drugs. Which is native to the Old World and which to the New World?

4. Major Psychoactive Drugs from Plants used in U.S.A. Marijuana (Cannabis sativa) Heroin (Papaver somniferum) Cocaine (Erythroxylum coca) Tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum)

5. Chemistry and Pharmacology of Psychoactive Drugs • Mode of activity • Absorption into bloodstream

6. Chemistry and Pharmacology of Psychoactive Drugs • Mode of activity • Absorption into bloodstream • Circulation ( “rush”)

7. Chemistry and Pharmacology of Psychoactive Drugs • Mode of activity • Absorption into bloodstream • Circulation ( “rush”) • Activity • -- affect neurotransmitters:

8. Chemistry and Pharmacology of Psychoactive Drugs • Mode of activity • Absorption into bloodstream • Circulation ( “rush”) • Activity • -- affect neurotransmitters: • Can mimic actions = agonists

9. Chemistry and Pharmacology of Psychoactive Drugs • Mode of activity • Absorption into bloodstream • Circulation ( “rush”) • Activity • -- affect neurotransmitters: • Can mimic actions = agonists • Can inhibit actions = antagonists

10. Neurotransmitters • 5 major types • Acetylcholine  stimulates muscle contractions; slows heart • antagonists: atropine, scopolamine • agonists: nicotine; stimulants

11. Neurotransmitters • 5 major types • Acetylcholine  stimulates muscle contractions; slows heart • antagonists: atropine, scopolamine • agonists: nicotine; stimulants • Norepinephrine  stimulates neurons; reused • antagonist: cocaine agonist: mescaline

12. Neurotransmitters • 5 major types • Acetylcholine  stimulates muscle contractions; slows heart • antagonists: atropine, scopolamine • agonists: nicotine; stimulants • Norepinephrine  stimulates neurons; reused • antagonist: cocaine agonist: mescaline • Serotonin  stimulates cells regulating sensory perceptions • alteration of neurons: LSD-type compounds  illusions etc.

13. Neurotransmitters, cont. • Dopamine  influences areas that control pleasure responses

14. Neurotransmitters, cont. • Dopamine  influences areas that control pleasure responses • Peptides  act as painkillers, etc. (endorphin, etc.) • - active in minute amounts; affect very specific receptors • agonists: opiates, tetrahydrocannabinol

15. History of Drug Use Use of mind-altering drugs is ancient -- present in many indigenous cultures Fig. 12.4, p. 292

16. History of Drug Use Use of mind-altering drugs is ancient -- present in many indigenous cultures Difference: -- indigenous cultures – drugs used by certain people in the society (shamans), in specific rituals Fig. 12.4, p. 292

17. History of Drug Use Use of mind-altering drugs is ancient -- present in many indigenous cultures Difference: -- indigenous cultures – drugs used by certain people in the society (shamans), in specific rituals -- U.S. 21st century culture – dissociation of drug use from formal cultural or religious customs Fig. 12.4, p. 292

18. Marijuana – Cannabis sativa • Cannabis sativa – multi-use plant: • fibers  ropes, fishnets, clothing Fig. 12.5, p. 293

19. Marijuana – Cannabis sativa • Cannabis sativa – multi-use plant: • fibers  ropes, fishnets, clothing • seeds  food, oil (non-food uses) Fig. 12.5, p. 293

20. Marijuana – Cannabis sativa • Cannabis sativa – multi-use plant: • fibers  ropes, fishnets, clothing • seeds  food, oil (non-food uses) • glands  psychoactive drug Fig. 12.5, p. 293

21. Marijuana – Cannabis sativa • Cannabis sativa – multi-use plant: • fibers  ropes, fishnets, clothing • seeds  food, oil (non-food uses) • glands  psychoactive drug • Cannabaceae • - Includes only Cannabis and Humulus (hops) • Related to Moraceae, Celtidaceae, Ulmaceae • herbaceous, laticifers, dioecious Fig. 12.5, p. 293

22. Fig. 12.5, p. 293 Cannabis flowers Dioecious – two different types of plants, producing either the pistillate (“female”) or the staminate (“male”) flowers Pistillate – 2 stigmas/flower

23. Fig. 12.5, p. 293 Cannabis flowers Dioecious – two different types of plants, producing either the pistillate (“female”) or the staminate (“male”) flowers Pistillate – 2 stigmas/flower

24. Fig. 12.5, p. 293 Cannabis flowers Pistillate – 2 stigmas/flower Staminate – several stamens/flower

25. Cannabis Biology • Major Drug Component – delta-trans-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) • binds to specific receptors in brain THC

26. Cannabis Biology • Major Drug Component – delta-trans-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) • binds to specific receptors in brain • THC- produced in glands on leaves and flowers Glands THC

27. Cannabis Biology • Major Drug Component – delta-trans-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) • binds to specific receptors in brain • THC- produced in glands on leaves and flowers • -- female plants produce more glands Glands THC

28. Cannabis Biology • Major Drug Component – delta-trans-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) • binds to specific receptors in brain • THC- produced in glands on leaves and flowers • -- female plants produce more glands • -- gland production stimulated by heat, sunlight, drought Glands THC

29. Cannabis Biology • Major Drug Component – delta-trans-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) • binds to specific receptors in brain • THC- produced in glands on leaves and flowers • -- female plants produce more glands • -- gland production stimulated by heat, sunlight, drought • -- sinsemilla (sin = without semilla = seeds) – particularly strong Glands THC

30. Cannabis Biology • Major Drug Component – delta-trans-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) • binds to specific receptors in brain • THC- produced in glands on leaves and flowers • -- female plants produce more glands • -- gland production stimulated by heat, sunlight, drought • -- sinsemilla (sin = without semilla = seeds) – particularly strong • Hashish – product - relatively pure resin Glands THC

31. Marijuana – History of Use Cannabis – native to central Asia Chinese – first to use, employed for fabric, medicines Fig. 12.7, p. 295

32. Marijuana – History of Use Cannabis – native to central Asia Chinese – first to use, employed for fabric, medicines India – country where first used for hallucinogenic properties Fig. 12.7, p. 295

33. Marijuana – History of Use Cannabis – native to central Asia Chinese – first to use, employed for fabric, medicines India – country where first used for hallucinogenic properties Africa – introduced through Arab traders; used as medicine Fig. 12.7, p. 295

34. Marijuana – History of Use Cannabis – native to central Asia Chinese – first to use, employed for fabric, medicines India – country where first used for hallucinogenic properties Africa – introduced through Arab traders; used as medicine Europe – became popular in 1800s Fig. 12.7, p. 295

35. Marijuana – History of Use Cannabis – native to central Asia Chinese – first to use, employed for fabric, medicines India – country where first used for hallucinogenic properties Africa – introduced through Arab traders; used as medicine Europe – became popular in 1800s U.S.A. – 1900s -- use proscribed, outlawed Fig. 12.7, p. 295

36. Marijuana – History of Use Cannabis – native to central Asia Chinese – first to use, employed for fabric, medicines India – country where first used for hallucinogenic properties Africa – introduced through Arab traders; used as medicine Europe – became popular in 1800s U.S.A. – 1900s -- use proscribed, outlawed End of 20th century – contentious debate regarding merits of legalization Fig. 12.7, p. 295

37. Fig. 11.6, p. 279 Papaver Alkaloids- Opiates

38. Fig. 11.6, p. 279 Papaver Alkaloids- Opiates

39. Hydrocodone Oxycodone

40. Opiates – History and Politics 3000 BC – first records of use; 2500 BC – Sumerian “joy plant”

41. Opiates – History and Politics 3000 BC – first records of use; 2500 BC – Sumerian “joy plant” Romans/Greeks – familiar with opium

42. Opiates – History and Politics 3000 BC – first records of use; 2500 BC – Sumerian “joy plant” Romans/Greeks – familiar with opium Europe – 1525, rediscovery of solution of opium in alcohol = laudanum (Paracelsus)

43. Opiates – History and Politics • 3000 BC – first records of use; 2500 BC – Sumerian “joy plant” • Romans/Greeks – familiar with opium • Europe – 1525, rediscovery of solution of opium in alcohol = laudanum (Paracelsus) • Chinese – first introduced in 7th century AD by Arab traders • Banned by government

44. Opiates – History and Politics • 3000 BC – first records of use; 2500 BC – Sumerian “joy plant” • Romans/Greeks – familiar with opium • Europe – 1525, rediscovery of solution of opium in alcohol = laudanum (Paracelsus) • Chinese – first introduced in 7th century AD by Arab traders • Banned by government British trade policies  forced Chinese to trade for opium

45. Opiates – History and Politics • 3000 BC – first records of use; 2500 BC – Sumerian “joy plant” • Romans/Greeks – familiar with opium • Europe – 1525, rediscovery of solution of opium in alcohol = laudanum (Paracelsus) • Chinese – first introduced in 7th century AD by Arab traders • Banned by government British trade policies  forced Chinese to trade for opium 1803 – morphine purified  able to deliver it in defined doses Potent painkiller, but problem – addictive

46. Opiates – History and Politics • 3000 BC – first records of use; 2500 BC – Sumerian “joy plant” • Romans/Greeks – familiar with opium • Europe – 1525, rediscovery of solution of opium in alcohol = laudanum (Paracelsus) • Chinese – first introduced in 7th century AD by Arab traders • Banned by government British trade policies  forced Chinese to trade for opium 1803 – morphine purified  able to deliver it in defined doses Potent painkiller, but problem – addictive Heroin – synthetic derivative of morphine -- addictive

47. Opium Production - Geography Problems: Area of production – poor countries, important cash crop

48. Opium Production - Geography Problems: Area of production – poor countries, important cash crop Area of consumption – wealthy countries, deleterious social effects

49. Opium Production - Geography Problems: Area of production – poor countries, important cash crop Area of consumption – wealthy countries, deleterious social effects Transport – through remote areas, effects on biodiversity

50. Opium Production – 2002 Update Poppy field in Afghanistan – lifeline for subsistence farmers?