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Updated: Sep 21, 2026

Assessment of Morphine-induced Hyperalgesia and Analgesic Tolerance in Mice Using Thermal and Mechanical Nociceptive Modalities
Published on: July 29, 2014
New dimeric morphine from opium poppy (Papaver somuniferum) and its physiological function
Satoshi Morimoto1, Kazunari Suemori, Futoshi Taura
1Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Kyushu University, 3-1-1 Maidashi, Higashi-ku, Fukuoka, 812-8582, Japan. morimoto@phar.kyushu-u.ac.jp
Abstract:
Together with bismorphine A (1), a new compound bismorphine B (2) was identified in the wounded capsules of Papaver somniferum. On the basis of analyses of the various spectral data, bismorphine B (2) was determined as a novel morphinan alkaloid, in which two morphine units are coupled through a biphenyl ether bond. When the physiological function of bismorphine B (2) in opium poppy was investigated, it was evident that this alkaloid more effectively cross-links cell wall polysaccharide pectins than bismorphine A (1) and that such cross-linking reaction leads to resistance against hydrolysis by pectinase.
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