Narcotine

Narcotine ($C\_\{22\}H\_\{23\}NO\_7$) is one of the organic bases or alkaloids occurring in opium, in which it usually exists in the proportion of 6 or 8 per cent. It is nearly insoluble in water, but dissolves sparingly in alcohol, readily in chloroform and ether. Narcotine possesses very slight alkaline properties; its salts do not readily crystallise, and are even more bitter than those of morphia, although the substance itself is almost tasteless. When first discovered (in 1803) it was supposed to be the stimulant principle of opium; but in reality it possesses very little activity. Its sulphate has been used in India as a substitute for quinine. Narcotine yields a great variety of compounds by decomposition, perhaps the most interesting being vanillin, the flavouring principle of vanilla.