Alkaloid

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Alkaloid

Alkaloid (/ælˈkælɔɪd/; from the Arabic "al-qali" meaning "the plant ashes") is a class of naturally occurring organic compounds that mostly contain basic nitrogen atoms. This group also includes some related compounds with neutral and even weakly acidic properties. Some synthetic compounds of similar structure may also be termed alkaloids.

Etymology

The term "alkaloid" (German: Alkaloide) was introduced in 1819 by the German chemist Carl Friedrich Wilhelm Meißner, and is derived from late Latin root "alkali" (which, in turn, comes from the Arabic "al-qali" meaning "the plant ashes") and the suffix "-oid" meaning "similar to".

Characteristics

Alkaloids are produced by a large variety of organisms, including bacteria, fungi, plants, and animals, and are part of the group of natural products (also called secondary metabolites). Many alkaloids can be purified from crude extracts by acid-base extraction. Many alkaloids are toxic to other organisms. They often have pharmacological effects and are used as medications, as recreational drugs, or in entheogenic rituals. Examples are the local anesthetic and stimulant cocaine; the psychedelic psilocin; the stimulant caffeine; nicotine; the analgesic morphine; the antibacterial berberine; the anticancer compound vincristine; the antihypertension agent reserpine; the cholinomimetic galantamine; the spasmolysis agent atropine; the vasodilator vincamine; the anti-arrhythmia compound quinidine; the anti-asthma therapeutic ephedrine; and the antimalarial drug quinine.

Classification

Alkaloids are classified based on their chemical structure. Some common classes of alkaloids include terpenoid, steroid, and amino acid alkaloids. Each of these classes is composed of alkaloids with similar structures and properties.

See also

References


External links

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