PHARMACOGNOSY NOTES

ALKALOIDAL DRUGS
Sl. Name of the Biological Source Chemical Therapeutic Uses
No. Drugs Constituents
PYRIDINE – PIPERIDINE ALKALOIDS
Page | 1. Tobacco Dried leaves from Nicotine, Anabasine CNS & Heart stimulant
1 Nicotina tobacum,
Fam: Solanaceae
2. Areca Nut Dried ripe seeds of Arecoline, Arecaine, Parasympathomimetic,
(Betel nut) Areca catechu, Fam: Guvacine Respiratory stimulant
Palmae
3. Lobelia Dried aerial part of Lobeline, Lobelidine Treatment of asthma,
(Indian tobacco) Lobelia bronchitis and respiratory
nicotianaefolia, Fam: stimulant
Campanulaceae
TROPANE ALKALOIDS
4. Belladonna Dried leaves and l-hyoscyamine, Anticholinergic, Mydriatic,
(Deadly night flowering tops of Atropine Antispasmodic
shade leaf) Atropa belladonna,
Ad: Phytoplacca Fam: Solanaceae
americana,
Solanum nigrum,
Ailanthus
5. Datura Dried leaves and Hyoscine, l- Anticholinergic, Mydriatic,
(Moon flower, flowering tops of hyoscyamine, Duodenal ulcer.
Devil’s Trumpet) Datura metel, Fam: Atropine,
Ad: Datura Solanaceae Scopolamine
innoxia
6. Stramonium Dried leaves and Hyoscine, l- Anticholinergic, Mydriatic,
(Thron apple) flowering tops of hyoscyamine Control motion sickness.
Ad: Xanthium Datura stramonium,
stramonium, Fam: Solanaceae
Solanum nigrum
7. Hyoscyamus Dried leaves and Hyoscine, l- Anticholinergic, Mydriatic,
(Henbane) flowering tops of hyoscyamine, Relives spasm from urinary
Hyoscyamus niger, Atropine tract
Fam: Solanaceae
8. Duboisia Dried leaves of l-hyoscyamine, Anticholinergic, bronchial
(Cork-tree) Duboisia Atropine asthma
myoporoides, Fam:
Solanaceae
9. Coca Leaves Dried leaves of Cocaine, Cinnamyl Local anesthetic, stimulant,
Erythroxylone coca. cocaine and Alpha- restorative, and also in
Fam: truxilline (Cocaine = convulsions.
Erythroxylaceae Ecgonine + methyl

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alcohol + Benzoic
acid)
QUINOLINE ALKALOIDS
10. Cinchona Dried bark of Quinine, Quinidine, Antimalarial, Antiarrhythmic,
(Jesuit’s bark, Cinchona calisaya, C. Cichonine, Bitter tonic
Page | Peruvian bark) succirubra, C. Cinchonidine
2 Ad: Cuprea bark, officinalis, C.
False bark ledgeriana, Fam:
Rubiaceae
11. Camptotheca Dried wood of Camptothecin Anticancer
(Cancer tree) Camptotheca
acuminatal, Fam:
Nyssaceae
ISOQUINOLINE ALKALOIDS
12. Opium Dried latex by incision Morphine, Codeine, Analgesic, Sedative,
(Afim) from capsule fruits of Thebaine, Hypnotic, cough suppressant,
Ad: Opium Papaver somniferum, Noscapine, in Diarrhea.
capsules in Fam: Papaveraceae Narceine, Papverine,
powdery form Meconic acid.
13. Ipecac Dried roots and Emetine, Expectorant, Emetic,
Ad: Lesser rhizome of Cephaelis Cephaeline, Amoebic dysentery
striated ipecacuanha Fam: Psychotrine
Ipecacuanha, Rubiaceae
White
ipecacuanha
14. Curare Dried bark of various d-tubocurarine Skeletal muscle relaxant
(South American plants
arrow poison) (Chondrodendron
tomentosum) Fam:
Menispermeceae and
Loganiaceae
15. Berberis Roots and rhizomes of Berberine Astringent in inflammation of
(Daruhaldi) Berberis aristata and mucous membranes.
other berberis sp.
Fam: Berberdaceae
INDOLE ALKALOIDS
16. Ergot Dried sclerotium of a Water soluble: Oxytocic, Prevents
(St. Antony’s fire) fungus Claviceps Ergometrine; postpartum hemorrhage,
pupurea Fam: Water insoluble: Migraine, treatment of
Clavicipitaceae, Ergotamine, dementia.
developed in ovary of Ergocristine,
s rye plant Secale Ergocriptine,
cereal, Fam: Ergocornine
Graminae

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17. Nux-vomica Dried ripe fruit of Strychnine, Brucine Bitter stomachic & tonic,
(Crow fig, Dog Strychnos nux vomica CNS stimulant, Respiratory
poison) Fam: Loganiaceae stimulant
Ad: Strychnos
nux blanda,
Page | Strychnos
3 potatorum
18. Rauwolfia Dried roots and Almaline, Hypotensive, tranquilizer,
(Sarpa Gandha) rhizomes of Rauwolfia Ajmaliline, sedative
Ad: Rauwolfia sarpentina Fam: Ajmalacine,
canescens linn.,R. Apocynaceae Serpentine,
vomitoria Sepentinine
19. Vinca Dried whole plant of Vinblastine, Anticancer, treatment of
(Periwinkle) Catharanthus roseus Vincristine Hodgkin’s disease and
Fam: Apocynaceae leukemia.
20. Physostigma Ripe seed Phystigmine, Treatment of glaucoma
(Calabar bean) Physostigma Eseroline, (Cholinergic)
Ad: Physostigma venenosum Fam: Eseramine
cylindrospermum Leguminosae
holmes
IMIDAZOLE ALKALOIDS
21. Pilocarpus Dried leaves of Pilocarpine Treatment of glaucoma,
(Jaborandi) Pilocarpus jaborandi atropine antagonist,
Fam: Rutaceae cholinergic
STEROIDAL ALKALOIDS
22. Veratrum Dried rhizome and Varatrine Hypotensive, decrease heart
(White and green roots of Veratrum rate
Hellebore) viridae Fam:
Liliaceae
23. Kurchi Dried bark of Conessine, Treatment of dysentery.
Holarrhena Kurchicine
antidysentrica Fam:
Apocynaceae
24. Ashwagandha Dried roots nad stem Withanine, Aphrodisiac,
(Winter cherry) of Withania somnifera Witheferine, immunomodulator, Sedative,
Fam: Solanaceae Somnine, Antirheumatic
Withanolide
(Steroid)
AKALOIDAL AMINE
25. Ephedra Dried arterial parts of Ephedrine, Sympathomimetic, Used in
(Ma-Huang) Ephedra sinica, E. Pseudoephedrine asthma, Hay fever
gerardiana Fam:
Gentaceae
26. Colchicum Dried ripe seed of Colchicine Treatment of gout, antitumor
(Meadow saffron) Colchicum autumnale activity, induce polyploidy
Fam: Liliaceae

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Ad: Fradulant
addition of
Glucose
27. Gloriosa Dried roots and Colchicine In the treatment of Gout and
(Glory lily) rhizomes of Gloriosa cancer
Page | superba Fam:
4 Liliaceae
PURINE ALKALOIDS
28. Tea Prepared leaves and Caffeine, CNS stimulant, Diuretics
Ad: Exhausted leaf buds of Thea Theobromine,
leaves, foreign sinensis Fam: Theophylline
leaves Theaceae
29. Coffee Dried ripe seed of Caffeine, Tannins, CNS stimulant, Diuretics
Coffea arabica Fam: fixed oil, proteins
Rubiaceae
30. Kola Cotyledon of Cola Caffeine, Preparation of aerated
nitida Fam: Theobromine, beverages and as a stimulant
Sterculiaceae Theophylline
31. Cocoa Dried seed of Theobromine, Stimulant, Diuretics,
Theobroma cocoa Cocoa butter Suppositories base
Fam: Sterculliaceae
GLYCOALKALOIDS
32. Solanum Dried and full-grown Solasodine Precursor for steroid hormone
berries of Solanum
khasianum Fam:
Solanaceae
QUINAZOLINE ALKALOIDS
33. Vasaka Fresh or dried leaves Vasicine, Vasicinone Expectorant, Bronchodilator
(Adulsa) of Adhatoda vasica
Fam: Acanthaceae
TERPENOIDAL ALKALOIDS
34. Aconite Dried tuberous roots Aconitine, Aconine Rheumatism, gout, cardiac
(Monkshood) of Aconitum napellus depressants
Fam: Ranunculaceae
35. Pepper Dried unripe fruits of Piperine, Piperetine Bronchitis, Gonorrhea
Ad: Japanese Piper nigrum Fam:
aconite root, Piperaceae
Indian aconite
root
MISCELLANEOUS
36. Bhringraj Entire herb of Ecilipta Wedilolactone, Brain tonic, improves
alba Fam: Asteraceae Ecliptine complexion, hepato-
protective
37. Phyllanthus Aerial parts of Phyllathin Anti-HIV, Hepato-protective.
(Bhuiamla) Phyllanthus amarus
Fam: Euphorbiaceae

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38. Punarnava Dried herb of Punernavoside, Used in the treatment of

(Rakta- Boerhaavia diffuse Boervinone Jaundice, diuretics
punarnava) Fam; Nictaginaceae
39. Shankhapushpi Aerial parts of Bitter substances, Nervous debility
(Shankhini) Canscora decussata triterpenes
Page | Fam: Gentianaceae
5 40. Aloe-weed Aerial parts of Beta-sitosterol Hair growth stimulant
(Dwarf morning Evolvulus alsinoides
glory) Fam: Convolvulaceae
41. Hemlock Unripe fruits of Conine, Conhydrine Sedative, antispasmodic
Conium maculatum
Fam: Umbelliferae

Fam: Family
Ad: Adulterants

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