Narceine (NC)

Narceine is an opium alkaloid produced by the Papaver somniferum (opium poppy) plant. It is a bitter, crystalline compound with narcotic effects and 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. Narceine methyl ester and narceine are potent alkaloids which were isolated from Corydalis longipes were found effective in vitro at very low concentration, i.e., 100~500 ppm against spore germination of some test plant pathogenic fungi (Alternaria solani, A. tagetica, Cercospora abelmoschi, Curvularia maculans, Erysiphe cichoracearum, E. pisi, Fusarium udum, Helminthosporium oryzae, H. penniseti, Ustilago cynodontis). Among the test, phytopathogens the spores of F. udum, C. maculans and H. penniseti were highly sensitive at 200 ppm. However, spores of E. pisi, A. solani and A.