WANI Dictionary

Alkaloid

Alkaloid is a group of natural nitrogenous compounds. Most alkaloids are basic and have biological activities, but there is no clear distiction between alkaloids and other nitrogenous natural compounds that are not called alkaloids (e.g., amino acids, nucleotides). Alkaloids usually include synthetic substances structurally similar to natural alkaloids.

Famous alkaloids include capsaicin, morphine, cocaine, atropine, quinine, and caffeine.

Definitions in the literature

• One of a group of nitrogenous organic compounds derived from plants and having diverse pharmacological properties. Alkaloids include morphine, cocaine, atropine, quinine, and caffeine, most of which are used in medicine as analgesics or anaesthetics [1].