Yellow Horned Poppy, Glaucium flavum

Yellow Horned Poppy

Scientific noun: Glaucium flavum Crantz

Common noun : : Yellow Horned Poppy

Family: Poppy family - Papaveraceae

Description: Biannual plant of the Poppy family - Papaveraceae - up to 80 cm. Its name comes from the Greek Glaukos, meaning ashy due to the white ash-like colour of the plant. Stems with yellow latex. Thick leaves; lower ones with long petiole; upper ones unstalked, embracing the stems. Yellow flowers, till 9 cm wide with four petals. The fruit is a capsule, long, curved.

Habitat: In salty, sandy places with much organic debris; river beds, dry paths, dunes, rocky places , etc.

Active principles:

Alkaloids: glaucine, protopine,, chelidonine, chelerythrine, corydine,

Fumaric and chelidonic acids.

Active parts: The whole plant, specially the roots.

Uses :

- Medicinal: In internal use, it has been used in homemade medicine to increase the secretion of the bile, in the cases of biliar insufficiency, gallstones and jaundice. Alkaloids liberate histamine which produces the contractions of the vesicle. Equally it has been used for the treatment of the intestinal spasms, the bronchial spasms and the cure of hepatic illnesses.. Also as antitussive. (The usual doses are established about half a tea spoonful of dry plant for glass of water) It was used during some time to treat the cataracts for its power to dissolve the opacities of cornea.

In external use, the application of its latex, a very strong vesicant , on the warts can be used to remove them.

Experiments carried out with animals have concluded:

- The alkaloids present on this plant show a great antiviral and antibacterial power to neutralize the virus of herpes, flu and mumps in mice.

- The cytotoxic power of these components was able to inhibit the growth in vitro of cancerous cells of liver, kidneys and pharynx in rabbits.

Different studies are being carried our in different parts of the world to look for a possible application of these alkaloids in cancer treatment .

Given the toxicity of their components their use is dissuaded in homemade preparations.

Toxicity: High, similar to poppy (Papaver somniferum L.). In superior doses to the usual, it produces a sensation of initial euphoria comparable to that of drunkenness, but later on it gives way to depressive state.

In external use the application of its juice possesses an irritating value, able to produce dermatitis in the skin. In some cases it presents a vesicant power , that's to say a potential power to cause bladders. Sometimes it can even burn the skin with the subsequent scabs. Applied on the eyes, it is very irritating and can develop conjunctivitis or ulcers.

Symptoms: Stomachache, nausea, vomits, thirstiness, dryness in the mouth, breathing difficulties, decrease of heart beat. In strong intoxications, mental confusion, numbness of the members, hypotension, respiratory failure and death.

It is toxic for the livestock that consume their leaves producing them unstable pace , drowsiness, lack of appetite , high production of saliva and a decrease in milk production.

Treatment: Induced vomiting, gastric lavage , artificial respiration, respiratory stimulants.

Cultivation