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Tow samples of Opium Powder (Opium Powder I and Opium Power II)and two sa-
mple of raw Opium(Turkish Opiumand Indian Opium)were used in this study,T-
he assay methods investigated included the Ch.P(III),IP(I),IP(II),USP(XX),
modified "lime process"(Ch,PIII), HPLC methods and a new modified method
proposed by the investigator.Both the lime method and USP(XX)method were
checked by HPLC studies.
According to the studies, the morphine content of Opium assayed by the li-
me process were lower then that by the USP(XX)and HPLC methods in 1-5-2%.
The loss of morphine from the mother liquid of morphine crystallization
was confirmed. In the lime process, cariations of crystallization conditi-
ons ,either in temperature(0-5℃ or r.t.)or in time(4,16, or 24 hrs)showed
essentially no influence on the final morphine content. The aliquot porti-
on taken by waight (method of the IP(I)was more reasonable than that taken
by volume.
The USP(XX)method gave not only high morphine content, but also high puri-
ty of the collected morphine fraction as indicated by HPLC studies. Filtr-
ation of the DMSO extract was difficult if there were large amount of fine
particles present in the samples. In the calculation of UV avsorption, the
"Amax-Amin" method was proposed, which, when compared with the correction
methodof the USP(XX), gave no significant difference in assay results. The
morphine content assayed by the HPLC methods depended on the ways of prep-
aring sample solutions, e.g., acetic acid extraction method removed some
of other Opium alkaloids and impurities, and gave assay result analohous
to that from the USP(XX) method. THe acetic acid extraction method might
be suitable for the determination of five main Opium alkaloids including
morphine.
A new modified method for Opium assay was proposed in this study, and gave
assay results analogous to that of the USP(XX) and HPLC methods. The morp-
hine content assayed by the lime process was generally low, but that assa-
yed by the nwe modified method was normal, and no correction was needed i-
n the final calculation. The aliquot portion taken by weight days was ado-
pted in the new modified method. In performing lime process, two working
days was needed, but hte new modified method required only one day. Due t-
o the light color of the titration solution, the detection of end point s-
howed no more difficulty any more. According to the experimental findings,
the new modified method seemed to be an ideal method for the assay of raw
opium samples used in this study.
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