Article · Wikipedia archive · Last revised Aug 8, 2026

Narceine

Narceine is an opium alkaloid produced by the Papaver somniferum plant. It is a bitter, crystalline compound with narcotic effects. It was formerly used as a substitute for morphine. Its name is derived from the Greek νάρκη (nárkē), meaning numbness, and the postfix -ine referring to an alkaloid.

Last revised
Aug 8, 2026
Read time
≈ 1 min
Length
160 w
Citations
3
Source
Wikipedia ↗
Narceine
source ↗
Names
Preferred IUPAC name
6-({6-[2-(Dimethylamino)ethyl]-4-methoxy-2H-1,3-benzodioxol-5-yl}acetyl)-2,3-dimethoxybenzoic acid
Identifiers
3D model (JSmol)
ChemSpider
ECHA InfoCard 100.004.566
EC Number
  • 235-480-2
KEGG
UNII
  • InChI=1S/C23H27NO8/c1-24(2)9-8-13-10-18-22(32-12-31-18)20(29-4)15(13)11-16(25)14-6-7-17(28-3)21(30-5)19(14)23(26)27/h6-7,10H,8-9,11-12H2,1-5H3,(H,26,27)
    Key: DEXMFYZAHXMZNM-UHFFFAOYSA-N
  • InChI=1/C23H27NO8/c1-24(2)9-8-13-10-18-22(32-12-31-18)20(29-4)15(13)11-16(25)14-6-7-17(28-3)21(30-5)19(14)23(26)27/h6-7,10H,8-9,11-12H2,1-5H3,(H,26,27)
    Key: DEXMFYZAHXMZNM-UHFFFAOYAJ
  • CN(C)CCC1=CC2=C(C(=C1CC(=O)C3=C(C(=C(C=C3)OC)OC)C(=O)O)OC)OCO2
Properties
C23H27NO8
Molar mass 445.468 g·mol−1
Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa).

Narceine (also spelled narcein1 and narceen2) is an opium alkaloid produced by the Papaver somniferum (opium poppy) plant.3 It is a bitter, crystalline compound with narcotic effects. It was formerly used as a substitute for morphine. Its name is derived from the Greek νάρκη (nárkē), meaning numbness, and the postfix -ine referring to an alkaloid.

See also

See also

References

References

  1. "Narceine". Guide to Pharmacology. Retrieved 2026-03-24.
  2. "Narceine". Collins English Dictionary. Retrieved 2026-03-04.
  3. van Itallie, L. (1946). "Investigations on poppies". Annales Pharmaceutiques Françaises. 4: 156–160.