ALKALOIDS

alkaloids
Defination:
Alkaloids are a class of naturally occurring organic compounds that

mostly contain basic nitrogen atoms.
or
A member of a large group of chemicals that are made by plants and
have nitrogen in them.
or
Alkaloids are derived from plant sources, they are basic, they contain
one or more nitrogen atoms (usually in a heterocyclic ring) and they
usually have a marked physiological action.
True alkaloids", which contain nitrogen in the heterocyclic
ring and originate from amino acids. examples are atropine,
nicotine and morphine, Quinine.
All the heterocyclic alkaloids are true alkaloids.
The true alkaloids should have following characters:

a).It should be sufficiently toxic.
b).should have marked physiological activity.
c).should be basic in nature.
d).Nitrogen should be present in a heterocyclic ring.
e).Should be derived from amino acids.
f).should occur in plant as salt of organic acids.
PROTO-Alkaloids:- These are alkaloids which are derived from amino
acid but do not have nitrogen in a heterocyclic ring. They are also called
as “Biological amine”.
Examples include:- mescaline, adrenaline and ephedrine.
PSEUDO-Alkaloids:--They do not derived from amino acid but having

nitrogen in heterocyclic ring .
They do not show many of the typical characters of alkaloids , but give
standard qualitative test for alkaloids.
e.g. steroidal alkaloids:-conessine

Purine bases :-- Caffeiene
SOME IMPORTANT ALKALOIDAL
DRUGS
EPHEDRINE :---(Synonym—Ma-huang).
Biological Source –It consists of dried young stem of Ephedra
gerardiana and Ephedra nebrodensis.
Family:- Gnetaceae(Ephedraceae).
Chemical Constituents:-- It contains the amino alkaloids : Ephedrine,
nor-ephedrine, n-methyl ephedrine, pseudo-ephedrine.
Test :-- Ephedrine is dissolved in water and dil.hcl ,then treated separately with
copper sulphate and sodium hydroxide. The solution gives Violet colour. If shaken with
ether the organic layer shows purple colour and aqueous layer shows blue colour.
Uses :-- a).bronchodilator in asthma.

b).in the treatment of allergic condition like hay fever.
COLCHICUM :--
Biological Source :--It consists of dried ripe seeds of Colchicum luteum and Colchicum
autumnale.
Family :--Liliaceae.
Chemical Constituents :-- Colchicine and Demi-colchicine.(both the alkaloids
contain Tropolone ring structure).
Colchicine is freely soluble in alcohol and chloroform , soluble in 25 parts of water and
in 220 parts of ether.
Test - Colchicine + 70% H2SO4 Yellow colour.
Uses :-- Specific drug for treatment of Gout and also having Anti-Tumor activity.
ARECA :-
Biological Sourse: It consists of dried ripe seeds of Areca catechu.
Family :-- Palmae.
Chemical Constituents:-- Arecoline, Guvacine, Guvacoline.
ARECOLINE
Uses :-- Having Parasympathomimetic action

--Sialogogue property and used in Paan-Supari.
Areca is an Anthelmintic drug used in veterinary practice.
RAUWOLFIA :-- (Sarpagandha , serpentine root).
Biological Source.-- It consists of dried roots of plant Rauwolfia
serpentina
Family :-- Apocyanaceae.
C.C :-- Reserpine .
Other alkaloids are :-- Ajamaline , Ajamalicine , resepinine , yohimbine , serpentine

and serpentinine.
Test :-- Reserpine + vanillin in Acetic acid RED colour.
Uses :-- Anti-Hypertensive

OPIUM :--
Biological Source: It is the dried latex obtained by incision from the unripe capsule of
Papaver somniferum.
Family :-- Papavarceae.
,
Chemical Constituents :--
Benzylisoquinoline type :-- Narcotine (noscapine), Narceine & Papaverine.
Phenanthrene type :-- Morphine, Codeine , Thebaine.
Codeine NARCOTINE
.
Test :---
1.Meconic acid test :-- opium is dissolved in water . filter , and to filterate ferric
chloride is added by which deep reddish purple colour is obtained ,which persists even
on addition of Hcl.
2. Morphine when sprinkled on nitric acid gives orange red colour. Codeine does not
respond to this test.
3.Papaverine + Hcl + Potassium ferricyanide Lemon yellow colour
Uses :-- a). Morphine is a potent analgesic.

b). Codeine is an anti-tussive.
c). Papaverine has relaxant effect on smooth muscles of intestine and
bronchial tract.
BELLADONA :-- ( Deadly night shade leaf).
Biological Source :-- It consists of dried leaves and other aerial parts of Atropa
belladonna.
Family :-- Solanaceae
Chemical Constituents :-- Atropine , Hyoscyamine , Hyoscine , Homatropine.
ATROPINE
Test :--(VITALI—MORIN TEST ):-The tropane alkaloid is treated with fuming nitric acid
, followed by evaporation to dryness and addition of methanolic KOH solution to an
acetone solution of nitrated residue.Violet colouration takes place due to tropane
derivative.
Uses :-- a). anti-cholinergic properties.( Pre- anaesthetic agent).

b).Anti-dote in opium and chloral hydrate poisoning.
CINCHONA :--
Biological Source: It is the dried bark of cultivated trees of Cinchona calisaya, Cinchona
ledgeriana, Cinchona officinalis & Cinchona succirubra
Family :-- Rubiaceae.
Chemical Constituents ;-- Quinine , Quinidine , Cinchonine and cinchonidine.

Also contains – Quinic and Cinchotannic acid, Glycoside -- Quinovin & Tannins and
Bitter essential oil.
Test ( THALLEOQUIN TEST) :--

Cinchona powder + Bromine water + dil. Ammonia
Emarld green colour.
Uses :--
a). Anti-malarial.
b). anti-Pyretic.
c).stomachic
d). Quinidine is used in Arrhythmia and tachycardia.

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alkaloids

Alkaloids are a class of naturally occurring organic compounds that

All the heterocyclic alkaloids are true alkaloids.

The true alkaloids should have following characters:

Examples include:- mescaline, adrenaline and ephedrine.

PSEUDO-Alkaloids:--They do not derived from amino acid but having

e.g. steroidal alkaloids:-conessine

Uses :-- a).bronchodilator in asthma.

Test - Colchicine + 70% H2SO4 Yellow colour.

Uses :-- Having Parasympathomimetic action

Other alkaloids are :-- Ajamaline , Ajamalicine , resepinine , yohimbine , serpentine

Test :-- Reserpine + vanillin in Acetic acid RED colour.

Uses :-- Anti-Hypertensive

3.Papaverine + Hcl + Potassium ferricyanide Lemon yellow colour

Uses :-- a). Morphine is a potent analgesic.

Uses :-- a). anti-cholinergic properties.( Pre- anaesthetic agent).

Chemical Constituents ;-- Quinine , Quinidine , Cinchonine and cinchonidine.

Test ( THALLEOQUIN TEST) :--

Emarld green colour.

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