Friedrich Sertürner
Encyclopedia
Friedrich Wilhelm Adam Sertürner (19 June 1783, Neuhaus
- 20 February 1841) was a German pharmacist
, who discovered morphine
in 1804.
).
As a pharmacist's apprentice in Paderborn, he was the first to isolate morphine from opium
. He called the isolated alkaloid
"morphium" after the Greek god of dreams, Morpheus
. It was not only the first alkaloid to be extracted from opium, but the first ever alkaloid
to be isolated from any plant. Thus he became the first person to isolate the active ingredient associated with a medicinal plant or herb.
In the years following, he investigated the effects of morphine. However, it only became widely used after 1815.
In 1809, Sertürner opened his first own pharmacy in Einbeck
. In 1822, he bought the main pharmacy in Hamelin
(Rathaus Apotheke), where he worked until his death in 1841.
Paderborn
Paderborn is a city in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany, capital of the Paderborn district. The name of the city derives from the river Pader, which originates in more than 200 springs near Paderborn Cathedral, where St. Liborius is buried.-History:...
- 20 February 1841) was a German pharmacist
Pharmacist
Pharmacists are allied health professionals who practice in pharmacy, the field of health sciences focusing on safe and effective medication use...
, who discovered morphine
Morphine
Morphine is a potent opiate analgesic medication and is considered to be the prototypical opioid. It was first isolated in 1804 by Friedrich Sertürner, first distributed by same in 1817, and first commercially sold by Merck in 1827, which at the time was a single small chemists' shop. It was more...
in 1804.
Biography
He was born on 19 June 1783 in Neuhaus (now part of PaderbornPaderborn
Paderborn is a city in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany, capital of the Paderborn district. The name of the city derives from the river Pader, which originates in more than 200 springs near Paderborn Cathedral, where St. Liborius is buried.-History:...
).
As a pharmacist's apprentice in Paderborn, he was the first to isolate morphine from opium
Opium
Opium is the dried latex obtained from the opium poppy . Opium contains up to 12% morphine, an alkaloid, which is frequently processed chemically to produce heroin for the illegal drug trade. The latex also includes codeine and non-narcotic alkaloids such as papaverine, thebaine and noscapine...
. He called the isolated alkaloid
Alkaloid
Alkaloids are a group of naturally occurring chemical compounds that contain mostly basic nitrogen atoms. This group also includes some related compounds with neutral and even weakly acidic properties. Also some synthetic compounds of similar structure are attributed to alkaloids...
"morphium" after the Greek god of dreams, Morpheus
Morpheus (mythology)
Morpheus in Greek mythology is the god of dreams, leader of the Oneiroi. Morpheus has the ability to take any human form and appear in dreams...
. It was not only the first alkaloid to be extracted from opium, but the first ever alkaloid
Alkaloid
Alkaloids are a group of naturally occurring chemical compounds that contain mostly basic nitrogen atoms. This group also includes some related compounds with neutral and even weakly acidic properties. Also some synthetic compounds of similar structure are attributed to alkaloids...
to be isolated from any plant. Thus he became the first person to isolate the active ingredient associated with a medicinal plant or herb.
In the years following, he investigated the effects of morphine. However, it only became widely used after 1815.
In 1809, Sertürner opened his first own pharmacy in Einbeck
Einbeck
Einbeck is a town in the district Northeim, in southern Lower Saxony, Germany. It is located on the German Timber-Frame Road.-Economy:Einbeck is famous for its 600 year old beer brewery, home of Einbecker Bier, the origin for the term Bock beer...
. In 1822, he bought the main pharmacy in Hamelin
Hamelin
Hamelin is a town on the river Weser in Lower Saxony, Germany. It is the capital of the district of Hamelin-Pyrmont and has a population of 58,696 ....
(Rathaus Apotheke), where he worked until his death in 1841.