The Effect of Gamma-Irradiation on the Biological Activity of Certain Alkaloids

In the present study, the effect of Gamma - Irradiation on same aspects of the pharmacological activity as well as the toxicity of both morphine and Atropine wasstudied . Radiation sterilization of morphine and atropine in the aqueous state as well as atropine in the solid state was performed at three dose level of irradiation namely,1.5,2.5 and 5 Mrad . the main findings of the present investigation can be summarized as follows :1- the analgesic activity of morphine sulphate solution as measured by the hot-plate method was not significantly changed by radiation sterilization at 1.5,2.5 and 5 Mrad.2- Irradiation of atropine in the solid state at dose levels of 1.5,2.5 and 5 Mrad did not change its antispasmodic activity .3-Sterilization of atropine in the aqueous state by autoclaving did not affect the antispasmodic activity of atropine to any appreciable extent.