This table contains the chemical structure, chemical class, main uses and chemical test for most important alkaloids in nature

1. Alkaloid Chemical
Class
Occurrence Uses Chemical test
Ephedrine
Phenyl
alkylamine
Ephedra sinica
F. Ephedraceae
Relieve asthma and hay
fever.
Nasal decongestant
Dragendorrf’s reagent
 long plates shape
crystals
Cathine
Phenyl
alkylamine
Catha edulis
F. Celastraceae
CNS stimulant Mayer’s reagent 
white ppt
Mescaline
Phenyl
alkylamine
Cactus lophophora
F. Cactaceae
Hallucinogenic and
psychoactive
Marqui's reagent 
orange color
Capsaicin
Phenyl
alkylamine
Capsicum annuum
F. Solanaceae
Counter-irritant to
relief rheumatism and
lumbago
Alcoholic solution +
FeCl3
Green color
Colchicine
Tropolone Colchicum
autumnale F.
Liliaceae
Treatment of gout Conc. HNO3  dirty
green color 
brown yellow.
Nicotine
Pyridine Nicotiana tabacum
F. Solanaceae
Insecticide
Used commercially to
produce Nicotinic acid
or Niacin (Vitamin B3)
Aqueous solution +
Vanillin/ HCl  Red
color
Piperine
Piperidine Piper nigrum
F. Piperaceae
Condiment.
Tonic and rubefacient
H2SO4  red color
Coniine
Piperidine Conium
maculatum F.
Umbelliferae
local analgesic in
treatment of
hemorrhoids and anal
fissures
Sodium nitroprusside
red color blue or
violet
Lobeline
Piperidine Lobelia inflata
F. Campanulaceae
Respiratory stimulant.
Expectorant.
Relieve asthma.
Marqui`s reagent 
red violet color
Pyridone Ricinus communis
F. Euphorbiaceae
Toxic alkaloid KMnO4 decolorize
the color
N
OMe
C
O
CH3
N
Ricinine

2. pyrrolizidine Heliotropium
europaeum
(Boraginaceae)
Anticancer
used for snakebite and
scorpion stings
+Ehrlich R. gives blue
to purple color
pyrrolizidine Senecio vulgaris.
(Compositae)
Controls pulmonary
hemorrhage
+Ehrlich R. gives blue
to purple color
Indicine N-oxide
pyrrolizidine Heliotropium
indicum
(Boraginaceae)
In early clinical studies
the possibility of using it
for the treatment of
leukemia
+Ehrlich R. gives blue
to purple color
Atropine
Tropane Atropa belladonna
F. Solanaceae
Anti-cholinergic,
mydriatic, antispasmodic
Preanesthetic, antidote
for organophosphorus
poisoning
Vitali-Morin’s
Testpurple color
Hyoscyamine
Tropane Hyoscyamus
muticus
F. Solanaceae
Antispasmodic
Anti-cholinergic
Vitali-Morin’s
Testred color
Hyoscine
Tropane Hyoscyamus
muticus
F. Solanaceae
Antispasmodic
Sedative and CNS
depressant.
Vitali-Morin’s
Testred color
Cocaine
Tropane Erythroxylum coca
F.
Erythroxylaceae
local anaesthetic
CNS stimulant effect,
followed by a hypnotic
effect.
+p-dimethylamino
benzaldehyde (▲) red
color
Hygrine
Pyrrolidine Erythroxylum coca
F.
Erythroxylaceae
Sedative
Hypnotic
It gives characteristic
crystals with gold
chloride and platinic
chloride
Quinine
Quinoline Cinchona
succirubra
F. Rubiaceae
Anti-malarial Thalleioquin test
 emerald green color

3. Quinidine
Quinoline Cinchona
succirubra
F. Rubiaceae
Anti- arrhythmic Thalleioquin test
 emerald green color
Emetine
Isoquinoline Cephaelis
ipecacuanha
F. Rubiaceae
Expectorant and emetic
Amoebic dysentery
treatment
Ipecacuanha alkaloids
in HCl + Ca-
hypochlorite 
Orange color
d- Tubocurarine
Isoquinoline Chondrodendron
tomentosum
F.Menispermaceae
Skeletal muscle relaxant Saturated aqueous
solution + FeCl3 
Green color
Morphine
Phenanthrene Papaver
somniferum
F. Papaveraceae
Powerful analgesic and
narcotic
+ FeCl3  blue color
Codeine
Phenanthrene Papaver
somniferum
F. Papaveraceae
Anti-tussive
Non-addictive medium
analgesic
+ FeCl3 + Conc H2SO4
(▲) Blue color +
HNO3 Red colour
Eserine
Indol Physostigma
venenosum
F. Leguminosae
A myotic drug, it has a
cholinergic effect and
stimulates gland
secretion
Eserine blue test
Strychnine
Indol Strychnos nux
vomica
F. Lganiaceae
Rodenticide + HNO3 Yellow color
Brucine
Indol Strychnos nux
vomica
F. Lganiaceae
CNS stimulant + HNO3 orange red
color (evap. + SnCl2)
violet colour
Ergometrine
Indol Claviceps purpurea
F. Clavicipitaceae
Oxytocic Van-Urk’s test

4. Ergotamine
Indol Claviceps purpurea
F. Clavicipitaceae
Migraine Van-Urk’s test
Vincristine
Indol Catharanthus
roseus
F. Apocyanaceae
Leukemia
HPLC
Vinblastine
Indol Catharanthus
roseus
F. Apocyanaceae
Hodgkin’s disease
HPLC
Yohimbine
Indol
β-Carboline
Coryanthe
yohimba,
F. Rubiaceae
Aphrodisiac + conc. H2SO4 + crystals
of K2Cr2O7  violet
streaks  blue green
Reserpine
Indol
β-Carboline
Rauwolfia
serpentina
F. Apocynaceae
Antihypertensives +p-dimethylamino
benzaldehyde (Glacial
acetic acidH2SO4)
green color red in
acid
Pilocarpine
Imidazol Pilocarpus
jaborandi, F.
Rutaceae
Miotic for treatment of
glaucoma
cholinergic agent
Helch’s test
Caffeine
Purine Camellia sinensis
F. Theaceae
CNS stimulant
Analgesic
Murexide test
Theophylline
Purine Theobroma cacao
F. Sterculiaceae
Diuretic
Respiratory stimulant
Murexide test
Theobromine
Purine Theobroma cacao
F. Sterculiaceae
Little stimulant action,
more diuretic activity
than Caffeine
Murexide test

5. Solanine
Steroidal Solanum
tuberosum
F. solanaceae
Starting material for
synthesis of sexual
hormones and
corticosteroids.
Mayer’s reagent 
white ppt
Solasonine
Steroidal Solanum
tuberosum
F. solanaceae
Starting material for
synthesis of sexual
hormones and
corticosteroids.
Mayer’s reagent 
white ppt
Taxol
Diterpene Taxus brevifolia,
F. taxaceae
Ovarian, breast and lung
cancer
HPLC