The Impact of OPIUM and Its Derivatives on Cell Apoptosis and Angiogenesis

Opium is an opiate substance that significantly affects human physiology and behavior. Ancient priests used opium as a powerful healing drug, and many medical texts have referred to opium as medication, especially during the nineteenth century. In the old days, the medical use of opium was widespread and was called God’s medicine. On the other hand, understanding the molecular pathway of opium function within cells is essential from pathophysiological views and clinical applications. The current literature shows that opium can initialize cell death by activating apoptotic events, which in turn induces cascade pathways of angiogenesis. In this review article, we attempt to investigate the effects of opium on cell apoptosis and angiogenesis.