ARGEMONE MEXICANA

Common Name: Prickly poppy, Mexican poppy • Gujarati: Darudi •Hindi : Satyanashi,

Pila- dhatura • Sanskrit: Brahmadandi, Hemavat

Botanical Name : Argemone maxicana

Family : Papaveraceae

Geographical Distribution:It is largely found in Mexico and is naturalized in many parts of the world.

Introduction: Argemone mexicana is a prickly , glabrous branching herb with yellow flowers. It is an annual that grows to about 1 meter in height with several branches and  bluish leaves with thorny ends. The leaves are thistle like .The flowers are between 4 and 6  centimeters across and have six yellow petals.They are terminal. The fruits are very thorny and full of small black seeds. In a tropical climate, the plant will flower throughout the year. The soil doesn’t have to be anything particular, although prickly poppy does seem to prefer lighter, sandier soil. This plant easily adapts to various climates, as well. The plant produces a yellowish latex that is very similar in appearance to that produced by the narcotic poppy.

Cultivation and Collection :It is best to sow Argemone poppy seeds just below the soil surface at a depth of about 3 mm in the late spring after the last frost. It is quite difficult to propagate Argemone species inside. If doing so then seeds should be planted in peat pots around five to seven weeks before they are due to be put out (after the last frost of early Spring). They should be grown at 13 to 16 degrees Celsius, and normally take about two weeks to germinate. When planting out they should be placed in an area that receives lots of sunshine and planted at a distance of around 25 cm for smaller Argemone species and 75 to 90 cm for larger varieties. Argemone oil is extracted from argemone seeds and often it is adulterated with sunflower oil to increase its quantity.

Chemical Composition: Plant contains two alkaloids – Berberine and protopone. Prolonged  used in oil produces toxic effect in human resembling those occurring in epidemic dropsy.  The seed oil contains myristic, palmitic , oleic ,linolenic acids , etc. The yellow juice containing small quantities of berberine , potassium nitrate was identified among the salts  naturally existing in the plant.

Medicinal Uses: Yellow colored latex is reported to be useful in dropsy, jaundice and cutaneous infections. Seeds are antidote to snake poison. They are valued as laxative, emetic, expectorant and demulcent. Oil is purgative and used for cutaneous affections.

Flowers and Fruits: All around the year in Indian conditions.

Type: Herb