Morphine

Morphine is classified from the drugs known as opioid analgesics. It effects the brain and nervous system and responds to pain. These are known as pain relievers. It is white crystalline powder. Highly soluble in water, ethanol, and chloroform. Morphine extracted from opium in form of salt- Morphine sulphate.

Morphine was isolated from raw opium in 1805 by a German pharmacologist, Friedrich Wilhelm Adam. Morphine is separated from dissolved opium in water by adding lime water in it. White powdery material appears on the surface which is filter and converted into blocks.

Chemical Structure

Uses 

• Morphine is used as Narcotic analgesic, cause euphoria, and habit forming. 
• Relief of moderate to serve pain in both acute and chronic management. 
• Pre-operative sedation and to facilitate the induction of anaesthesia.
• For long term treatment of terminally ill, pain ridden patients.  

Side effects

The most common side effects of morphine 

1. Respiratory Depression
2. Vomiting 
3. Sedation, mental clouding- sometimes dysphoria
4. Hypotensive effect 
5. Rise in intracranial Pressure

Chemical Analysis 

Colour test 

1. Marquies test – Gives Blue colour 
2. Frohde’s test – Pink colour 
3. Husemann’s test – Reddish yellow colour
4. Test for Meconic Acid – Blood red colour 

Confirmatory test 

1. Thin layer chromatography 
2. UV and IR Absorption spectra 
3. Gas chromatography 
4. Microscopical analysis