2. Table of contents
i. Definition
ii. Nomenclature
iii. Physiological action
iv. Occurrence
v. isolation
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3. DEFINITION
Alkaloids are a class of basic , naturally occurring organic
compounds contains atleast one nitrogen atom
includes some related compounds with neutral and even
weakly acidic properties
are produced by large varieties of organisms including
bacteria, fungi , plants and animals
Example: quinine morphine ephedrine
Quinine Morphine Ephedrine
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4. nomenclature
no unique method for naming alkaloids
Trivial names should end by ‘ine’. These names may refer to :
• The genus of the plant , such as Atropine from Atropa belladonna
• The plants species , such as Cocaine from Erythroxylon coca
• The comman name of drug , such as Ergotamine from ergot
• The name of the discoverer , such as Pelletierine that was discovered
by Pelletier
• The physiological action , such as Emetine that act as emetic,
Morphine means God of Dreams act as narcotic.
• A Prominent physical character , such as Hygrine that is hygroscopic
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5. Prefixes and Suffixes
Prefixes:-
“Nor-” designates N-demethylation or N-demethoxylation , eg;-
Norpseudoephedrine and Nornicotine
“Apo-” designates dehydration, eg;- Apomorphine
“Iso-, pseudo-, neo-, and epi-” indicates different types of Isomers
Suffixes:-
“-dine” designates Isomerism as quinidine and cinchonidine
“-ine” indicates, in case of ergot alkaloids, a lower pharmacological
activity , eg:- Ergotaminine is less potent than ergotamine
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6. Physiological Action
Alkaloids has a multifarious physiological activity profile. Some of the
recognized alkaloids with their typical physiological actions are :
CNS activities :eg- caffeine, morphine
ANS activities : eg- ephedrine, nicotine
Antimalarial activity: eg- quinine
Local anaesthetics: eg- cocaine
Antibacterials: eg- berbrine
Antipsychotics: eg- reserpine
Antineoplastics: eg- vinblastine
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7. In plants :
act as protective against insects and herbivores due to their bitterness and
toxicity
are the final products of detoxification (waste product)
Source of nitrogen in case of nitrogen deficiency
act as growth regulators in certain metabolic systems
utilized as a source of energy in case of deficiency in carbon dioxide
assimilation
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8. Occurrence
• Alkaloids are found;
in certain types of fungi , such as psilocybin
in animals, such as bufotenine in the skins of some toad
in a number of insects, markedly ants
many marine organisms also contain alkaloids
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9. occur in various parts of plants such as
Nicotine is produce in the roots of tobacco plant which is then translocated to the leaves
Morphine is obtained from the latex of opium poppy and also collected from fresh fruits
Quinine is the produced the from the bark of cinchona tree
Colchicine is obtained from the seed and corm of colchicum.
Alkaloids are also found in the form of salts of some plant acids such as;
Aconite alkaloids – with aconitic acid
Cinchona Alkaloids – with quininic acid
Opium Alkaloids – with neconic acid
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11. 11
Powdered material moistened with water
Separate organic layer containing alkaloid
Filter it
Extract with Organic solvent (Benzene, chloroform or acatone)
Collect the filtrate
Add water
Treated with lime
Pure alkaloid are separated by chromatographic techniques
Collect aqueous layer containing the alkaloid
Convert it into salt form
Add acid and water alkaloid
Reject Organic layer
Reject the aqueous layer containing impurities
Discard the powder material
Method - 1
12. 12
Reject aqueous layer
Treat with alkali and add organic solvent
Reject the organic layer containing impurities
Separate aqueous layer containing alkaloid
Add Acetone
Discard the powder material
Collect the filtrate
Filter it
Extract with water or Alcohol
Powdered material moistened with water
Treated with Acid
Pure alkaloid are separated by chromatographic techniques
Collect organic layer containing the alkaloid
Convert it into base form
Method - 2
