The document provides an extensive overview of alkaloids, which are basic nitrogenous plant products with significant physiological effects. It categorizes alkaloids into true alkaloids, protoalkaloids, and pseudoalkaloids, and details their chemical properties, classification, and tests for identification. Additionally, it discusses specific alkaloids from plants such as Vinca rosea and Rauwolfia serpentina, including their cultivation, medicinal uses, and potential side effects.

1. Alkaloids
•The alkaloids are defined as ‘basic nitrogenous plant products, mostly
optically active and possessing nitrogen heterocyclic as their structural unit,
with a pronounced physiological action.
•The term alkaloid was coined by W. Meissner, a Germon Pharmacist.
The first alkaloid to be synthesised was Coniine in1886.It was isolated in
1827.
•These are organic product of natural and synthetic origin which are basic
in nature and contain one or more nitrogen atom, normally of heterocyclic
nature and posses specific pharmacological action on human or animal
body.
•The true alkaloids are toxic in nature.contain hetrocyclic nitrogen which is
derided from amino acids and always basic in nature.
A.Protoalkaloids:simple amine, nitrogen is
amines.ex Mescaline, ephedrine , colchicine
B.Pseudoalkaloids
absent in ring/biological
:includes steroids and terpenoids alkaloids, not derived from amino acids.
They donot shows typical charaters of alkaloids by give posative test for
alkaloids.

2. Physical Properties
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•
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•
•
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Colorless, crystalline solids
Sharp melting points
Some are amorphous gum
Some are colored Betanidin is red, Berberine is yellow
Soluble in organic nonpolor solvents, immiscible solvents
Salt are soluble in water.
Chemical nature: Basic in nature due to presence of nitrogen or
avilability of lone pair of electron on N.

5. •
• Alkaloids
• All the extracts were evaporated separately then the acidic solution
of extracts was prepared by dissolving it in hydrochloric acid & was
then filtered. These extract solutions were then used for different
tests which are as follows:
• a) Dragendorff’s test- 2-3ml of extract solution + few drops of
Dragendorff’s reagent (positive test shows orange brown colored
precipitate)
b) Mayer’s test- 2-3ml of extract solution + few drops of Mayer’s
reagent (positive test shows cream colored precipitate)
• c) Hager’s test- 2-3ml of extract solution + few drops of Hager’s
reagent (positive test shows yellow colored precipitate)
• d) Wagner’s test- 2-3ml of extract solution + few drops of Wagner’s
reagent (positive test shows reddish brown colored precipitate)

6. Classification of alkaloids on the basis of their
chemical nature is as follows:
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
• Phenylalkaylamine ( Epherine, Pseudoephedrine, Taxine,
Hordenine)
Pyrrolidines, Piperidines andpyridines
Tropane alkaloids (Hyoscamine, atropine and hyscine)
Quinoline alkaloids of Cinchona
Indole alkaloids (Apocyanaceae, Rubiaceae and Loganiaceae)
Purine alkaloids (Caffeine, Threobromine, methylated derivatives of
Xanthine)
Tropolone alkaids (Colchicines)
Isoprenoid alkaloids
Diterpenoid alkaloids

7.  In the recent past, the alkaloids have been divided
 into two major categories based on the analogy that one
containing a non-heterocyclic nucleus, while the other having
theheterocyclic nucleus. These two classes of alkaloids shall be
discussed briefly as under.
 (a) Non-heterocyclic Alkaloids A few
 typical alkaloids having non-heterocyclic nucleus are
erumerated below:

8. Heterocyclic Alkaloids A large number
specific alkaloids possessing heterocyclic nucleus are stated below:
of

11. Synonyms:-Vinca rosea, Catharanthus, Madagascar, periwinkle.
Barmasi.
Biological Source:- Vinca is the dried entire plant of
Catharanthus roseus Linn .belonging to family Apocynaceae
Geographical Source:- The plant is a native of Madagascar and is
found in manytropical and subtropical countries especially in India,
Australia,SouthAfrica and North andSouthAmerica.The plant
is cultivated as garden plant in Europe and India.

12. Itrequire dry or moist soil and can tolerate drought.
Itis cultivated either by directly sowing the seeds or sowing the
seeds innursery.
Nursery sowing method is found to be economical and the fresh
seeds are sown in nursery in the month of February or March.
The seedlings attain a height of 5–8 cm after two months and
then they aretransplanted in to the fieldat a distance of 45 cm × 30
cm.
In order to collect the whole plant, the stems are first cutabout 10
cmabove the grounds and the leaves, seeds, stems are separated and
dried.
The roots arecollectedby plugging which are later washed and
dried under shade and packed.

13. Leaves:- Green incolour
Flowers:-areeither violet, pinkish
white or carmine red.
Root:- Sare pale grey incolour
Flowers:- Hermaphrodite (have both
male and female organs) and are
pollinated bybees.
Fruit:-follicleswithnumerous black
seeds. Fig.Catharanthus Roseus

14. Fig:-T.SofVinca Leaf
 Epidermis is asingle
layer of rectangular cellscovered with
thickcuticle.Itconsists of uni-cellular
covering trichome and cruciferous
stomata.
Palisade parenchyma cells are
presentjustbelow the upperepidermis
 Midrib regiontwo
to three layers of collenchyma is
present, both below the upper
epidermis and above the lower
epidermis
Vascular bundle consisting of xylem
and phloem is present in the middle of
midribregion

15.  leaves and roots containmore alkaloids.
About 90 alkaloids havebeen isolated fromVinca likeAjmalicine,Serpentine are
known and are presentinother speciesof Apocynaceae.
 The important alkaloidsinCatharanthusarethe dimer indoleindoline alkaloids
Vinblastineand Vincristineand they possess anticancer activity.
VindolineandCatharanthineareindole monomeric alkaloids.
 It also containsmonoterpenes,sesquiterpene,indole and indoline glycoside.

16. Vinblastine Vincristine

17.  Vinblastin is an antitumour alkaloid used in the treatment of Hodgkin’s
disease
 Vincristine is used to treat leukaemia in children
 Itmay also be used as a gargle
 The flowers of the Periwinkle are gently purgative
 It is stated,is excellent as a gentle laxative for children

21. Rauwolfia serpentina (Indian snakeroot)
Synonyms:
Rauwolfia Serpentina, Rauwolfia Root, Indian Snake root, Sarpagondha, Chhotachand
Botanical source:
Rauwolfia consists of the dried roots of Rauvolfia serpentina Benth., a large shrub
Apocynaceae.
Geographical source:
The Plant is indigenous to Bangladesh, India, Burma, Thailand, Malaysia and Indonesia.

22. Sarpagandha
Plant

23. Macroscopical characters:
The drug occurs in pieces, about 8 to 15 cm long and 0.5 to 1.0 cm
thick.
The roots are subcylindrical or slightly tapering, somewhat tortuous
in shape and rarely branched.
The outer surface is dull yellowish brown in colour and possesses
faint longitudinal ridges.
They have a short fracture.
The transversely cut surface shows a pale yellowish white, finely
radiate compact wood with 3 to 8 growth rings.
The bark is about 0.5 to 2.0 mm wide. The drug has a bitter taste
but no specific odour.

24. Sarpagandha, an evergreen plant, has been in use
since 4000 years in Indian medicine.
An erect under-shrub, it is a species of flowering
plants.
The leaves are 7-10cm long, spear-shaped.
The flowers are 1 inch long, white and violet.
It contains nectar at the deep of the corolla tube.
The blooming time is in the month of August and
September.
The root is branched and tuberous. It is used as a
useful herb in the Ayurveda, Unani and
Homoeopathy treatments.

26. Sarpagandha
Flowers

27. Microscopical characters:
The bark is composed of a stratified cork with alternating bands of
smaller and larger suberised cork cells.
These cells are isodiametric in surface view.
The phloem consists of narrow rays of sieve tubes and parenchyma
and alternates with broader medullary rays, which are 2 to 4 cells
wide.
The parenchyma cells contains small starch grains and prisms of
calcium oxalate.
The central dense woody tissue consists of many small vessels,
small groups of fibers and lignified xylem parenchyma.
The starch grains are mostly simple and rounded, occasionally they
occur as 2 to 3 compound grains.

28. T.S OF PLANT ROOT

29. T.S OF PLANT ROOT
Rauwolfia. A, piece of root; a, transverse surface of root· B diagrammatic t.s. of
root; C, t.s. of cork; D, t.s. of the secondary wood; E, fibres and vessel; F,
starch gains, ck, cork; f, fibre; m.r., medullary ray; pd, phelloderm; ph, phloem,
p.xy, pnmary xylem; r, growth ring; rl, resin material; s, starch (Reconstructed
from Trease & Evans and Wallis).

30. Chemical constituents:
Rauwolfia contains 1.2 to 1.4 percen of total indole alkaloids, the most
important of which are reserpine, deserpidine and rescinnamine.
Its other constituents include resinous matter, fatty acids, unsaturated
alcohols, dextrose and sucrose.

31. Medicinal use of Sarpagandha
Sarpagandha is composed of many
chemical compounds like Reserpine,
Serpentine and Ajmalacin.

32. •It is used for the treatment of high blood
sugar. Hence called as universal medicine for
lowering blood pressure.
•It cures insomnia, hysteria and hypertension.
•It is also useful for in the treatment of
cataract.
•It also cures plague and fever.
•Sarpagandha is used for the treatment of
Schizophrenia.
•It is used in different countries as a sedative
and tranquilizer.

33. •Sarpagandha has also been in use in the
treatment of intractable skin disorder such as
psoriasis, excessive sweating and itching.
•It is also used against irregular heart action in
old ages.
•Sarpagandha also cures toxic goitre.
•It is also useful some gynaecological problems
like frigidity and moliminia.

34. •It also balances Vata and pitta in the
body
•Sarpagandha is also used for
rheumatism, edema and intestinal
diseases.
•It is also used against constipation
and dizziness.

35. Sarpagandha
fruit

36. •Sarpagandha does not have any quotation
of curing cancer or liver diseases.
•Rather it has dangerous side effects and
increases cancer cells.
•So, it must be taken under strict medical
supervision.
•It is also good to avoid the use of
Sarpagandha.

37. •Substitues of Rauwolfia
• R. micrantha,
•R. densifiora,
•R. vomiteria

38. SYNONYMS:Belladonna leaf, Belladonna herb.
BIOLOGICAL SOURCE:
It consists of dried leaves and other aerial parts of
Atropa belladonna Linn.
FAMILY: Solanaceae
GEOGRAPHICAL SOURCE:
England, Europe. In india, it is found in the
western himalayas from simla to kasmir &
adjoining areas of Himachal pradesh.

43. Cultivation of belladonna at an altitude of 1400
m from sea level is found to be satisfactory.
Belladonna berries are curshed to get the seeds
for cultivation.
Proper processing like washing and sieving is
performed.
Only healthy seeds are used for cultivation.
Seeds are sown by broadcasting method in well
prepared beds with the application of fungicide
like diathon.
Sowing is done in may & july

44. The seedlings are ready for transplantation by
the end of September.
Transplanting is done by keeping certain distance
between two plants & the seedlings are irrigated
carefully.
Fertilizers like urea, potash & superphosphate are
given as per the needs.
Insecticidal sprays like sevin are also tried when
the plant reaches maturity.
The leaves,as well as, the flowering tops are cut
& sundried (or)dried in shade.

45. During drying, care is taken to retain the green
colour.
While grading and packing for market, woolly
stems and foreign organic matter are rejected.
The yield per hectare is found to be 200 to 600kg

46. Colour:Leaves are greenish brown.
 Odour:
 Slight & characteristic.
 Taste: Bitter.

47. Dorsiventral leaf
Collenchyma above & below the mid rib
Unicellular covering trichomes, unicellular
glandular trichomes
Microsphaenoidal calcium oxalate crystals

49. The total alkaloidal content of drug is 0.4 to 1%
& varies in different parts of plant roots (0.6),
stems (0.05%), leaves (0.4%), unripe & ripe
berries (0.19-0.21%) & seeds (0.33%).
The main alkaloids are l-hyoscyamine & its
racemic form atropine.
The drug also contains belladonine, scopoletin,
hyoscine, pyridine & N-methyl pyrroline.
The later two are the volatile bases.

51. Belladonna is used as a sedative, to stop bronchial
spasms in asthma and whooping cough, and as a
cold and hay fever remedy.
It is also used for Parkinson's disease, (is a brain
disorder that causes a gradual loss of muscle
control.)colic, motion sickness, and as a painkiller.
Belladonna is used in ointments that are applied to
the skin for joint pain (rheumatism), leg pain caused
by a disc in the backbone pushing on the sciatic
nerve (sciatica), and nerve pain (neuralgia).

52. Belladonna is also used in plasters (medicine-
filled gauze applied to the skin) for treating
psychiatric disorders, a behavior disorder called
hyperkinesis,
excessive sweating (hyperhidrosis), and
bronchial asthma.

53. OPIUM

54. Dried Latex
• Latex is the milky sap of many plants that coagulates on exposure to air.It
is an emulsion or suspension in which the aqueous phase is composed of
mineral salts, proteins, sugars, tannins & alkaloids. The oily phase is
composed of oils, resins, etc.
• Latex is usually produced in laticiferous tissueswhich
• may be:
• Laticiferous cells
• Laticiferous tubes.
• Laticiferous vessels (originate from many cells): e.g. Opium

55. Synonym
Poppy Latex , Gum opium.

56. Source
• Raw opium is the dried milky exudation
obtained by incising the unripe but fullygrown
capsules of Papaver somniferum Family -
Papaveraceae .
• The quality of opium is judged by morphine
content which is required to be n. l. t. 9.5%by
the USP.
• Commercial varieties include Turkish,
Persian, Indian & Yugoslavianopium.

57. Cultivationand Collection and
Preparation
• The seeds of opium are cultivated in batches. This is to ensure that theentire
crop is not affected by climatic conditions like frost ordrought.
• The cultivation is done in the months between September andApril.
• A gap of 25 cm should be maintained between two consecutiveplants.
• Before sowing the seeds, they are mixed with sands properly.
• About five to six capsules appear on each plant and it flowers in the monthof
May-June.

58. • After the petals fall from the poppy, the pod, which is about the size of agolf
ball, is lanced, and the opium latex is exuded. What you see here is one
lancing, made with a special knife which has four blades about 1/16th inch
apart, clearly visible in the photo. Initially the latex is pink; later it changes
to black.

59. • The opium collected is weighed on a daily basis before an officer ofthe
Narcotics Dept.
• After the latex has been collected, all the peasants from an area take their
opium to a weighment center. Their opium has been scraped into standard
containers of known weight. One-tenth of a hectare produces smallamounts
of latex.

60. Macroscopic Character
• Odor: Strong , characteristic.
• Taste: Bitter.
• Color: Varies depending on the type of opium. For instance,
Indian opium is dark brown while manipulated Turkish opium is
chocolate brown in color.

61. Active
constituents
• Opium contains more than 19 alkaloids, some of which are
combined with meconic acid, others with sulfuric acid and
some as free alkaloids.
• There are 3 main classes:
• Phenanthrene.
• Benzyl isoquinoline.
• Phenyl alkyl amine

64. Chemical Tests
1. First of all opium is dissolved in water and then ferric chloride solution is
added. It results in reddish purple color. The change in color occurs due to
presence of meconic acids in opium.
2. In another test, when opium is treated with small amount of nitric acid,
orange red color is produced. This test occurs due to the presence of
morphine in opium

65. Uses
• Morphine:
1.Most powerful analgesic used in cases of severe pain as post operativepain,
bone fractures, cancer patients & in cases of angina.
2. Remedy in convulsions.
3. Precede the use of anesthetics to increase their efficacy
4.Used as an antagonists for poisonous effects of other alkaloids asstrychnine,
atropine, phytostigmine.

66. • Codeine:
1. is weaker in intensity than morphine.
2. produces less tendencies to addiction.
3. Codeine depresses the cough center in the brain.
4. Causes constipation & hypnosis.

67. Heroin:
1. It is the synthetic diacetyl derivative ofmorphine.
2. It is 5 X more potent as morphine.
Papaverine:
1. is a smooth muscle relaxant

68. Papaverine:
1. is a smooth muscle relaxant