Mexican poppy is a plant common in India It is also found in Mexico and USA.
This plant is a member of Papveraceae plant family.
This is an annual prickly herb of
about 100 cms. height with yellow latex. The leaves are simple, sessil, spiny, sinuate-pinnatified,
variegated with white, spiny on margins and veins white.The flowers are bright yellow, terminal on short
leafy branches. The fruits are prickly capsules about 4 cms. long, spinous, erect. The seeds are
numerous, black, globose prominently reticulately veined.
Usage:
In
Ayurveda the leaves, seeds and the roots are used for treatment of skin diseases, leprocy, pruritus.
Chemical compounds obtained:
Allocryptopine and berberine are obtained from this plant.
