Morphine, Nicotine, and Caffeine

Morphine, Nicotine, and Caffeine

The main reason as to why various alkaloids are isolated, derived, and ingested is that pleasure and a chemical fix could be experienced. Opium, which is a substance that could be isolated from the opium poppy, Papaver somniferum, contains the alkaloid morphine. Opium has been used for its intoxicating and therapeutic effects since prehistoric times and has been cultivated in many parts of the world, such as the eastern Mediterranean region and Persia. Opium has been used as a medical herb to enhance creativity, to relieve pain, and as an intoxicant by many people. Opium has been prohibited by law during the early twentieth century die to the addictive properties of the alkaloids. The abuse of opium has been very common, especially throughout China. Opium contains a variety of alkaloids, which the most abundant alkaloid being morphine. Morphine is a narcotic (because it is derived from opium) analgesic and has the ability to reduce pain. The molecular structure of morphine is similar to the molecular structure of the polypeptide hormones, endorphins. The chemical similarities of morphine and endorphins accounts for the common binding sites. The morphine molecules bind to a regulating site at pain receptors and prevent them from being depolarized and reduce the transmission of pain signals. Excess activity of endorphins or narcotics induces a state of well-being and euphoria. A similar alkaloid to morphine, codeine, is a less potent and addictive narcotic pain reliever that contains a CH₃O group instead of an HO group attached to the benzene ring. Felix Hoffman, after synthesizing acetylsalicylic acid or Aspirin, he synthesized diacetylmorphine from morphine. The same acylation reaction, in which acetyl groups are introduced into the molecular structure in place of hydrogen atoms on hydroxyl groups, has been applied to morphine to metabolize it into heroin. The drug, heroin, is more addictive and potent than morphine and passes through the blood-brain barrier more rapidly. Since diacetylmorphine is more potent than morphine itself, it has been administered during surgical operations and in cases of severe pain and suffering in lower doses. A majority of countries ban the drug and it is illegal by law, however the illegal drug trade proceeds to generate huge profits; one of the products of the acylation reaction of morphine, acetic acid, can arouse suspicions in authorities based on the presence of an illicit drug. The species of plants, Nicotina, contains an alkaloid called nicotine, which has been discovered by Christopher Columbus in the New World. He noticed that many people were administering this drug in different ways. Tobacco has also been banned in many countries such as England, France, and Russia. The nicotine molecule, which is an alkaloid present in the tobacco leaves, forms a linkage in the junction between two neurons, which increases the neurotransmission because the nerve signals could travel to other neurons across a greater amount of routes and linkages, however the neurotransmitter sites become obstructed due to the unsuccessful method of elevating the neurotransmission by the molecule, nicotine, resulting in a lower heart rate, blood flow, and oxygen transportation to the specialized tissues. Nicotine, in higher doses, is a lethal toxin and is a potent insecticide. One the drug is administered through smoking as vapor, the nicotine molecules in the vapor travel along the respiratory tract, through the trachea, bronchi, and bronchioles, into the sites of gas exchange, the alveoli, where the alkaloid molecules absorb directly into the bloodstream and pose their physiological activity and mechanism of action based on their molecular structure and similarities in molecular structure between a hormone/neurotransmitter and the drug itself. One of the B vitamins, nicotinic acid, is a very necessary nutrient and its deficiency leads to a disease called Pellagra, which leads to dermatitis, dementia, and diarrhea. Commercial bakers modified the name of the vitamin into niacin because they do not want the name of the vitamin to sound like a very addictive and harmful drug. Caffeine, the third alkaloid that influenced the Opium war, is a psychoactive drug with an addictive potential almost equivalent to the addictive potential of marijuana. Caffeine is considered to be a central nervous system stimulant and is contained in coffee, caffeine pills, and energy drinks [which ere products of the twenty-first century]. Theophylline is found in tea, theobromine is found in cocoa, and caffeine is found in coffee beans. The differences in molecular structure amongst these alkaloids accounts for their divergent physiological activity. Caffeine interferes with the function and activity of the neuromodulator, adenosine, which decreases the rate of spontaneous nerve firing and regulates neurotransmission. As a result of suppress adenosine activity induced by caffeine, the neurotransmission increases and the heart rate increases, along with the blood pressure. Certain blood vessels dilate as well. Medically, caffeine could be used to increase blood pressure, as a diuretic, and to treat migraines; theophylline in tea could be used to treat asthma as a bronchodilator. Therefore, one of the alkaloids, caffeine, has been widely used by many people since its introduction into Europe through chocolate and has been responsible for the economic growth of many countries, such as Brazil; the economic growth induced by the caffeine trade and monopoly permitted the construction of railways. The three molecules and alkaloids, opium, nicotine, and caffeine, have been desired, abused, and used medically for certain assumed therapeutic properties and have influenced economic growth through the transportation, trade, large-scale production, and consumptions of these products. The main reason as to why so many historical events have been tolerated in association to these alkaloids is because of people’s desire to ingest a substance and experience pleasure or entertainment as a result of the physiological activity of these molecules. The addiction forms as a result of tolerance and dependence; dependence arises when the administration of a drug is needed to support and maintain normal brain function and tolerance develops as a result of adaptation, and increase in the amount of smooth endoplasmic reticulum organelles in the cells that detoxify the drug, and a lower production of receptor proteins in response to the overstimulation. The isolation and derivation of alkaloids lead to economic booms and to social changes such as serving coffee in every café in Europe after caffeine has been introduced into their culture.