Medicinal Application of the Iceland Poppy (Papaver nudicaule L.) in Traditional Mongolian Medicine

In recent years, there has been a considerable focus on the utilization of natural medicinal substances, 
including plant-based medicines and formulations. While traditional medicine has been utilizing various 
medicinal plants to treat a wide range of diseases, there are still many medicinal plants and substances 
that have not been thoroughly studied at the scientific level. One such plant is the Iceland poppy (Papaver 
nudicaule L.) from the Papaveraceae family. Globally, the Papaveraceae family comprises 44 genera and 
760 species of which 32 species, representing 7 genera, are identified within Mongolia. The Iceland poppy 
(Papaver nudicaule L.) is extensively distributed throughout Mongolia, with all parts of the plant, including 
its fruit and flowers. In addition, it has been traditionally employed in Mongolian medicine to treat a variety 
of ailments. However, systematic research on the practical applications and studies of the status of the local 
Iceland poppy in both modern and traditional Mongolian medicine remains poorly reported.  Therefore, we 
aim to conduct a comprehensive and comparative study of the Iceland poppy (Papaver nudicaule L.) and its 
application in the Traditional Mongolian medicinal literature and internationally published studies. Materials 
and Methods: In this study, data was collected from a comprehensive review of the international and 
Traditional Mongolian medicine literature to understand the medicinal application of the Iceland poppy. 
Additionally, current study results were analyzed to assess its practical applications and efficacy in modern 
medicinal contexts. Results: "In a variant of Mongolian medicinal prescriptions, the Iceland poppy (Papaver 
nudicaule L.) is combined with the herb “Govo jad-5” Mongolian traditional prescription for treating 
surgical wounds, torn blood vessels, and both old and new wounds. Furthermore, the book 'Methods and 
Prescriptions for Using Medicinal Plants in Traditional Mongolian Medicine reports that Iceland poppy is part 
of a mixture of four types of poppies used to treat conditions such as diarrhea, intestinal inflammation, and 
dysentery, by boiling and administering the concoction. A study by Otgonpurev Sukhbaatar et al., (2018) 
determined that the optimal conditions for callus and suspension biomass production of Papaver nudicaule 
L. are 1 mg/L naphthalene acetic acid and 0.5 mg/L benzyl adenine in MS media. Additionally, Gerelt-Od 
Yadamsuren et al., reported that the alkaloids 8,14-dihydroamurin, 8,14-dihydroflavinantin, and flavinantin 
from Papaver nudicaule L. exhibit significant antiviral activity against human rhinovirus-14. Conclusion: 
Iceland poppy (Papaver nudicaule L.) has been used in traditional Mongolian medical practice for a long 
time. it has been historically widely used in Mongolian traditional medicine to treat wounds under the 
name of “wound healer”. As reported by the scientific literature, the primary uses of these plants include 
inhibiting acetylcholinesterase enzyme, anti-cancer effects,  as well as antioxidant and anti-inflammatory 
properties. Furthermore, regarding its chemical composition, researchers have conducted studies that 
confirm the presence of alkaloids in this plant, specifically isoquinoline alkaloids. These compounds are 
known for their diverse biological activities and potential therapeutic effects, which may contribute to the 
plant's traditional medicinal uses. In summary, the Iceland poppy (Papaver nudicaule L.) has been utilized 
in traditional medicine for treating a variety of illnesses; however, it suggests that more comprehensive 
research is necessary to scientifically substantiate these applications.