As per GTU syllabus b.pharm sem-6

1. Alkaloids
Pooja H. Khanpara
Asst. professor
Pharmacognosy
Aksharpreet College of Pharmacy, Lakhabaval, Jamnagar

2. Definition
The term “alkaloid” (alkali-like) is commonly used to
designate basic heterocyclic nitrogenous compounds of
plant origin that are physiologically active. Derived from
amino acids.
DEVIATION FROM DEFINITION:
Basicity: Some alkaloids are not basic e.g. Colchicine,
Piperine, Quaternary alkaloids.
Nitrogen: The nitrogen in some alkaloids is not in a
heterocyclic ring e.g. Ephedrine, Colchicine,
Mescaline.
Plant Origin: Some alkaloids are derived from Bacteria,
Fungi, Insects, Frogs, Animals.
Biosynthesis: Some alkaloids are not derived from amino
acids e.g purine, steroidal alkaloid .

4. History

12. NAMING OF ALKALOIDS
Numerous methods can be used to name alkaloids
1-Generic plant name –atropine from Atropa belladonna
2-Specific name of the plant –cocaine from Erythroxylum coca.
3-Common name of the herb –ergotamine from ergot (rye)
4-Physiological action of the plant –emetine producing emesis
5-Other –e.g. morphine derived from ancient Greek mythology –
Morpheus –god of dreams

15. IV- Isomerization
• Optically active isomers may show different physiological activities.
l-ephedrine is 3.5 times more active than d-ephedrine.
l-ergotamine is 3-4 times more active than d-ergotamine.
d- Tubocurarine is more active than the corresponding l- form.
• Quinine (l-form) is antimalarial and its d- isomer quinidine is
antiarrythmic.
• The racemic (optically inactive) dl-atropine is physiologically active.

19. 1. Stass otto method
Powdered plant material
Defatted with non-polar solvent
Defatted plant material
Moist with water and treated with NH3, Dil. Lime solution (Free Alkaloid)
Extracted with organic solvent like chloroform, ether
Extract, Concentrate it
Dissolved in Dil. Acid (Alkaloidal salt)
Aqueous phase Organic phase impurities
Basified with ammonia or sodium
Bi-carbonate or Dil. KOH
Aqueous phase Organic phase(Free Alkaloid)
Evaporate to dryness
Crude Alkaloids

22. 2. Manske’s method
Powdered Crude material
Defatted with non-polar solvent
Defatted Crude material
Extract with methanol
Methanol Extract
Concentrate
Dissolve in water and Acidified it upto pH 2 (Alkaloidal salt)
Steam Distillation to remove traces of methanol
Stand for several days in refrigerator
OR boiled with paraffin
Filter
Filtrate
Shake with organic solvent like chloroform or ether
Aqueous phase (Alkaloidal salt) Organic phase
Basified with ammonia or sodium
Bi-carbonate or Dil. KOH
Aqueous phase Organic phase
Evaporate to dryness
Crude Alkaloids

27. Fractional crystallization
Ephedrine & Pseudoephedrine Oxalates
Crystallization from water
Ephedrine Oxalate
Crystals
Pseudoephedrine Oxalate
Solution
Atropine & Hyoscyamineine Oxalates
Crystallization from
Acetone/Ether
Atropine Oxalate
Crystals
Hyoscyamine Oxalate
Solution

37. A) True alkaloids
Sr. no. Type Structure Examples
1. Pyrrole and
pyrrolidine
N
H
N
H
e.g. Hygrine, coca species
2. Pyiridine and
piperidine
N N
H
e.g. Arecoline, anabasine, lobeline,
conine, trigonelline
3. Pyrrolizdine
N
e.g. Echimidine, senecionine,
seneciphylline
4. Tropane
N
e.g. Atropine, hyoscine, hyoscyamine,
cocaine, pseudopelletirine
5. Quinoline
N
e.g. Quinine, quinidine, cinchonine,
cupreine, camptothecine
6. Isoquinoline
N
e.g.Morphine, codeine, emetine,
cephaline, narcotine, narceine, d-
tubocurarine

38. 7 Indole
N
H
e.g. Erotamine, ergotametriene,
reserpine, vincristine, vinblastine,
strychnine, brucine
8 Imidazole N
N
H
e.g. Pilocrpine, isopilocarpine, pilosine
9 Norlupinane
N
e.g. Cystisine, laburinine
10 Piporphine
(reduced
isoquinoline
napthalene)
N
e.g. Boldine

40. B) PROTOALKALOID
1. Alkyalamine
HO
NH
Ephedrine, Pseudoephedrine
C) Pseudoalkaloid
1. Purine
N
NN
HN
e.g. Caffeine, thophylline, theobromine
2. Steroidal e.g. Solanidine, conessine,
protoveratrine
3. Diterpene C20H32 e.g. Aconitine, aconine, hypoaconine

43. Pyridine - Piperidine
1. Tobacco

44. Chemical Test:
1) Aq. extract of tobacco treated with cyanogen-bromide give orange
color
2) Nicotine sulphate obtained as hexagonal tablets and soluble in
water and ethanol.
3) Nicotine HCl & Nicotine 2HCl obtained as deliquescence crystals.

45. Other Species: Nicotiana glauca (Tree tobacco),
Nicotiana rustica & Nicotiana glutinosa
Side-effect: it is toxic (40mg) , stimulation leading to depression & then
paralysis.
USE :As insecticide in agriculture(40 %sol. of nicotine sulphate).

46. 2. LOBELIA
Syn: Indian tobacco, Asthma weed, Emetic herb
B.S.: Consists of dried leaves and tops of Lobelia
inflata Linné
Fam. Campanulaceae
G.S.: Eastern & Central U.S., Canada, Holland, North
America.
Macroscopy:
Color: stem is green with purplish ting
Odour : none
Taste: extremely acrid, unplesent & irritating
Size: total plant abt. 2-3 mtr.

47. Cultivation & collection:
It is an annual herb abt 30 to 50 cm high. Latex vessels are present
in phloem stem.
Drug is obtained from both cultivated and wild plant.
For cultivation seeds are sawn in rich, moist, loamy soil usually in
autumn. Sometime march and april also.
After sawing seed cover with soil and pressure is applied on them
by placing wooden plank end on them.
Collection in Auguest & september.
Aerial part are collected & dried in shade to minimum green color.
Limit of stems is kept up to 60%.

48. Chemical Constituents:
Contains 14 alkaloids which
LOBELINE is the major and most
important. It has a pungent, volatile
oil, resin, lipids, and gum.
This occurs as colorless crystals
which are slightly soluble in water
but readily soluble in hot alcohol.
 Lobelanine
 Lobelanidine

49. Uses:
• In tmt. of asthma, respiratory stimulant.
• Powder is used as inhalation. Anti-smoking preparations
Lobeline sulfate incorporated in tablets or lozenges are smoking
deterrents.
Lobeline had placebo effect on decreasing the physical craving for
cigarettes.
Chronic bronchitis, bronchial asthma.
Injection of lobeline hydrochloride is used in the resuscitation of
newborn infants (asphyxia)
Chemical test:
1. lobeline sol. + H2SO4 = red color with formaldehyde.
2. on boiling it form acetophenone which recognised by smell.

50. 3. Pipper:
α & β pinene,
Phellandrene
Allied drug:
Cubebs or tailed pepper

51. Morphology:
Shape: round or globular
Size: 3-6mm in dimeter
Color: greyish brown or black on outersurface, which is highly
reticulated.
Apex & base are easily distinguishable as apex shows remains of
stigmas & base shows scare points attachment to axis.
Taste: Strong Pungent ,
Odour: Aromatic
Cultivation & collection:
20-30 sessile flower develop sessile fruits.
Fruits are collected when their lower part turns red.
They are dried in open & artificial heat.
White pepper is prepare from black pepper by soaking in water
removing outer layer of black one then removing it by rubbing.then
washed & dried.

52. 3A. Long Piper:

53. 4. Areca
Syn.: Areca nut or Betel Nut , Pinag, Supari
B.S. : A dried, ripe seed of Areca catechu
Family: Palmae
G.S. : Philippines, India, East Africa, Sri Lanka,
Malasiya, Pinlang, Bangladesh
Areca- a Spanish and Portuguese term for betel nut
Catechu- East Indian name for an astringent extract or juice
Areca mixed with lime, the leaves of Piper bette Linné and
occasionally Gambier is known as “PUNSUPARI”. This mixture is
used as a stimulant masticator.
Consists of 0.45% alkaloids, 15% tannins, lipids, volatile oils and
gum.

54. Morphology:
Size & shape: Tall palm tree which bears fruit of nut type, each contain
single seed, thin seedcoat & large endosperm.
Color: testa brown
Taste: astringent
Chemical Constituent:
• These are reduced pyridine derivatives.
• Arecoline (arecaidine methyl ester)
• Arecaidine (N-methyl guvacine)
• Guvacine (Tetrahydronicotinic acid)
• Guvacoline (Guvacine methyl ester)
Uses:
• Psychoactive drug used as parasympathomimetic
• It contain sialogogue so used as masticatory .
• Anthelmintic drug used as vermicide & Taenifuge in veterinary
practice.

55. 5. Pomgranate
Syn.: Dadam, Dadima, Kharakam,
Madhuramlaphalam, Grenade, Anar, Mathalam.
B.S. : Punica granatum Linn.
Family: Punicaceae (Lythraceae)
G.S. : India, North Africa, Sri Lanka, America,
Pakistan, South Asia, Afghanistan.
• Part used: Bark, fruit, seed, flower
• Morphology:
Color: bark: green-gray, Leaf: green, Flower: redish
Size: 10 mtr. (small tree)
Leaf: opposite, glabrous, with smooth upper surface, 3-7 cm long & 2cm
broad
Flower: scarlet red or yellow, solitary or 2-4 together
Fruit: globose, brownish red colored crowned by persistent calyx
Seed: numerous covered with thick sweet testa, the edible part of the fruit.

56. Chemical constituents: Icosanoic, Linolenic (Conjugated,
Linolenic(Alpha, Oleic, Palmitic-, Punicic, Stearic acid. citric acid
,Malic acid was the second most abundant. Phenolic compounds like
gallic acid, protocatechuic acid, chlorogenic acid, caffeic acid, ferulic
acid, o – and p -coumaric acids, catechin, phloridzin and quercetin.
Uses:
In treating diarrhea, dysentery and intestinal parasites
Pomegranate is well known for antioxidant properties.
It helps in preventing the formation of skin cancer by reducing the
frequency of lesions
It provides relief from minor skin irritations, such as dry skin, eczema
and psoriasis.

57. cultivation
P. granatum is grown for its fruit crop, and as ornamental trees and
shrubs in parks and gardens. Mature specimens can develop
sculptural twisted-bark multiple trunks and a distinctive overall form.
Pomegranates are drought-tolerant, and can be grown in dry areas
with either a Mediterranean winter rainfall climate or in summer
rainfall climates. In wetter areas, they can be prone to root decay
from fungal diseases. They can be tolerant of moderate frost, down
to about −12 °C (10 °F).[16]
Insect pests of the pomegranate can include the pomegranate
butterfly Virachola isocrates and the leaf-footed bug Leptoglossus
zonatus, and fruit flies and ants are attracted to unharvested ripe
fruit.[17] Pomegranate grows easily from seed, but is commonly
propagated from 25 to 50 cm (9.8 to 19.7 in) hardwood cuttings to
avoid the genetic variation of seedlings. Air layering is also an option
for propagation, but grafting fails.[3]

58. Other species:
Punica florida Salisb.
Punica grandiflora
Punica nana L.
Punica spinosa Lam

68. Indian ginseng

69. G.S.: South europe, india, africa, ajmer, manasa in M.P.
Cultivation & Collection:
Sandy loam soil, light red soil having PH 7.5 – 8 with good drainage.
It is perennial, branched, erect (verticle), under shrub.
Roots develop within 1-2 late winter rains received.
Seed propagation by broadcasting method during 2 week of july.
They are sawn in nursery, lightly covered with soil & germinating about
6-7 days after sowing.
When become 6 week old it transplant in open field in 60 cm wide. Area
Harvesting start from January to till march.
Roots are cut in to small pieces of 7-10 cm to facilitate drying.

70. Withhasomine,
Anaferine,
Anhygrine,
Hyggrine,
Withanolide,
isopellatierine.

71. Cocca

72. Morphology
morphology Bolivian peruvian
General appearance entire More or less broken
Size 4 – 8 cm long 2-5 cm long
Shape Oval Elliptical
Margine entire Entire
Apex acute Acute
Base tapering Tapering
Surface Glabrous, slight glossy Glabrous, not glossy
Color Brownish green Pale green
Odour faint Faint
taste bitter Bitter
texture Thin, firm (hard) Thin, fragile (weak)
venetion Prominent on lower side, midrib
progecting slightly. 2 prominent
ridges present
Similar but ridges not
available

73. Cultivation & Collection
Planting by seed in rich, light & well drained soil at altitude 1500 – 6000 ft.
2nd year collect leaves in dry weather., usually 3 times in a year, dried in
shade.

76. G.S.: central & south europe, england, germany, america, india(kulu, kashmir, simla)
Atropa acuminata (indian)

77. Cultivation & collection:
Seed sawn in nursary, then seedling transplanted in deep well
drained, moist, calcareous soil & loamy soil in April.
Weeding & fertilizing are needed.
Leaves Collected in dry summer weather next 4 ft. hight, flowring
15th june to 15th july.
From 2nd cut plants harvesting are done in August & september and
sometime in october.
Root are dug out at 4th year
Drug dried at 40 – 60 °C in dark sheds.

79. Scopolia
• Synonym: Europian Scopolia, Russian Belladona
• B.S.: it consist dried root & rhizomes of Scopolia japonica
• Family: Solanaceae
• G.S.: india, england
• C.C: hyoscyamine, Scopolamine, Atroscine
• Morphology: ovate, smooth leaves, pale green
• Use: sedetive, arthritic pain, mydriatic

80. • Scopolamine
It has a depressant activity on the CNS.
It is used to treat motion sickness.
It is employed for preanesthetic sedation and for obstetric amnesia
in conjunction with analgesics and to calm delirium.
• Scopolamine or hyoscine
 An alkaloid abundant in Datura fastuosa var. alba and in D. Metel.
 It is an ester that, upon hydrolysis, yields tropic acid and scopoline.
 It occurs as an almost colorless, syrupy liquid from its chloroformic
solution and colorless crystals from its ether solution.

81. • Scopolamine hydrobromide or hyoscine hydrobromide
 It occurs as colorless or white crystals or as a white, granular powder
that is odourless and slightly efflorescent in dry air. It is extremely
poisonous.
 It is classified as anticholinergic.
 It is employed for preanesthetic sedation and for obstetric amnesia in
conjunction with analgesics and to calm delirium. It is administered SC or
IM in a single dose.

82. Quinoline & Isoquinoline

94. Tetrahydroxy-iso-quinoline monoterpenoid
Johore Ipecac, Ipecac Rio
Cephelis acuminata (panama)

104. Isoquinoline Alkaloid
Afim, Afin
G.S.: turkey, Yugoslavia(macedonia), india, pakistan, Iran, china, thiland, pakistan

106. morphology
Paramet
er
Indian
Opium
Persian Opium N. Turkish or
Europian
Maupaleted
Turkish
Menuplated
Europen
Odour Strong
chs.
Strong chs. Strong chs. Strong chs. Strong chs.
Taste bitter bitter bitter bitter bitter
Color Dark
brown
Dark brown Dark brown
Or brown
Chocolate
brown or
dark brown
Dark brown
Shape Cubical
piece
Brick Conical or
round
flattened
Oval
flattened
Elongated
masses with
flattend rounded
end
weight 900 gm 450 gm 250-1000 gm 2000 gm 150-500 gm
nature Brittle &
plastic
Hygroscopic,
granular or
smooth
fracture
Hard & brittle
covered with
poppy leaves
Plastic or
brittle ,
covered
with poppy
hard, plastic,
brittle covered
with poppy
leaves

118. Camptotheca
Syn: Cancer tree, happy tree, tree of life
B.S.: it is dried stem wood of Camptotheca acuminata Decane
Family: Nyssaceae
G.S.: Southern china, tibet
Cultivation & collection:
It is a desiduous tree, sawing seed, shading is require for increasing
alkaloidal content(leaves & root).
Fruits are collected late in autumn, others collected in year.
All part dried in sunlight.

120. morphology
Color: leaves are dark green with reddish ppetiole, flower are red
Odour: charecteristic
Taste: bitter
Size: 8-10 cm in length & 3-5 cm in width
Shape: leaves are entire, acuminate,
ovate & lanceolate
Chemical Constituent:
Camptothecine
Use: Antitumer agent

121. Indole alkaloid

151. Physostigma
Syn: Calabar bean, Ordeal bean
B.S.: it consist dried ripe seeds of Physostigma venenosum.
Family: Leguminoceae
G.S.: West Africa, gulf of gunea
Macroscopy:
Shape: seed are flarrened, kideny
Size: 2-3 cm long and 1 to 1.5 cm wide, 1.5 cm thick
Color : Dark brown
C & C: Physostigmin(eserine), eseroline, isophysostigmine,
physovenine, geneserine, calabacine, calabatine.

152. Use: Cholinesterase inhibitors
Physostigmine salicylate is used for contracting the pupil eye
In glucoma

153. Imidazole alkaloid

156. Steroidal alkaloid

165. Veratrum
It contain 2 group of alkaloid jeveratrum & ceveratrum.
1) veretrum viride
Syn: American or green hellebore
B.S.: it consist of dried rizome & roots of veretrum viride Aiton.
Family: Lilliaceae
G.S.: New York, North carolina, Georgia, Tennessee.,canada
Macroscopy:
Color: brown
Odour: Unplesent
Taste: Acrid
Size: rhizomes 5-8 cm in length 2-3.5 cm wide.
Shape: Sub-cylindrical with numerous yellowish brown spot.

167. Use:
1) it lowers Blood pressure & decreases heart rate.
2) it is used I hypertension(mainly in pregnancy, as liquid extract or
tincture.
2) Veratrum Album
• Syn: White hellebore, European hellebore
• B.S.: Dried rhizome of veratrum album Linn.
• Family: Liliaceae
• G.S.: native central & southern Europe, China & Japan.
• it is deciduous herb, flowering in June-July bears white flowers.
• Stem is hairy 50-125cm in height.

169. Macroscopical characteristic:
Color: Brown
Odour: Unpleasant characteristic
Taste: Burning, acrid & bitterish
Size: 5-15 cm in length & 2-3 cm in diameter
Shape: Tuberous, fleshy with number of long white fibres at end of
the roots.
Chemical Constituent:
Mainly veratrine , germidine, protoveratrine, cevadine,
pseudojervijne, veratrosine.
Use: in preeclampsia & eclampsia
Substitutes: Cevadilla seeds

170. Other hellebores

171. Kantakari
Syn: Kateli, duhusparsh, Nidhigandhika, yellow-berried nightshade,
Indian Solannum
B.S.: it is obtained from plant of Solanum xanthocarpum
Family: Solanaceae
Macroscopy:
Size: 1.5 cm prickles,
Color: flower-purple, leaves- green, spines- light yellow
Shape: leaves- egg shaped, shiny prickles, hairy, round fruit.
Smooth seed

172. Chemical Constituent:
Carpesteral, 1.3% solanocarpine, solanine, solanidine.
Use:
Fruit as antianthelminitic & for indigestion.
Root as expectorant & diuretic.
In tmt of cough, asthma, chest pain.
Also used in flatulence, sour thought, toothache & constipation.
Adultrants & substituents:
Clepodendrum seeratum(Bharangi)

173. Purine Alkaloid

180. Quinozoline Alkaloid

184. Alkaloidal Amine

199. Diterpene alkaloid
1) Aconite:
Syn: Monkshood, Friar cowl, Mouse-bane, Aconite root, Radix
aconiti.
B.S.: it consist of the dried root of Aconitum nepellus Linn.
Family: Ranunculaceae
G.S.: Europe, Alps, Carpathian, hills of Germany & Himalaya, Spain
Macroscopy:
It is varies from species to species.
Shape: Conical & tapering below
Surface: slightly twisted bearing longitudinal reading, some aconite
contain fibrous rootlets or their scars.

200. Color: dark brown
Size: root – 4-10 cm in length & 1-3 cm in diameter at crown.
Odour: Slight characteristic
Taste: sweet first then produce numbness

201. Chemical Constituent:
Aconitine, hypaconitine, sconine, napelline, neoline, acotinic acid
Uses:
Tincture as antipyretic in small doses
Local analgesic to treat neuralgia, rheumatism & inflammation.
2-3mg can lead respiratory failure, heart failure and end of the
death.
Commercial Verities:
1) Japanese Aconite: Aconitum Japonicum , roots are shorter, gray
or dark brown in color, its contain cardiotonic properties.
2) Chinese Aconite: A.carmichaelii, A. cusnezofii & A. brachypodum.
3) Indian Aconite: A. chasmanthum. 2.5-4.5 cm long. It contain
indaconitine. Others are A. deinorrhizum & A. balfourii,
A.spicatum & A.Lciniatum

202. Taxus
Syn: Pacific yew, western yew, American yew,
Oregon yew, bow plant, mountain mahogany
B.S.: it contain fruit of the tree of Taxus brevifolia
Family: Taxaceae
G.S.: western north america, south alaska to north california,&
pacific coast to Idaho, Montana, fransisco
Macroscopy: evergreen,
Height: 6-10 mtr. Dia.- 15-30 cm,
1.4 m also 25 m height( Washington)
Male tree: yellow flower
Female tree: seed enclosed in pulpy, red sweet, trunk is tapered &
fluted, covered by scaly, reddish-brown to purple-brown bark

203. C & C: terpenoids, n-alkanes, myrtenol, 3-hexenol, tricosane
Use: anticancer
Comercial varities:
T. canadensis
T.baccata
T. floridana

204. Tylophora
B.S.: leaves & root of Itylpphora indica
SYN: Antmul, antomul, Kharki-raena, pitakari, antamul
Family: Ascalepidaceae
G.S.: all over india
Macroscopy:
Leaves: 5-10 cm long ovate, oblong, acute, acuminate base cordate
Flower: yellow, purple witin
Fruit: Folicle, I pairs, ridged, 7.5-10 cm long, tapering the fine point
at apex
Roots: Fleshy, long
Latex: white

205. C & C: Tyloindicine – A,B,C,D,E,F
Chemical Test: Mayer’s, Dragendroff’s, Hager’s, Wagner’s tests
Use: Hepatoprotective, Anti-allergic, Diuretic, Anticancer, Anti-
asthamatic, cardiac activity, Imunomodulatory activity