alkaloids

Examples of alkaloids in the following topics:

• Ergot Poisoning

  • Ergot poisoning is caused by ingestion of the alkaloids produced by the ergot fungi.
  • At this specific stage, the alkaloids and lipids accumulate .
  • Alkaloids are produced within various organisms as a secondary metabolite.
  • The alkaloids produced by fungi are often toxic.
  • Specifically, the alkaloid produced by Claviceps purpurea is ergoline based.

• Some Polycyclic Heterocycles

  • Examples of some nitrogen compounds, known as alkaloids because of their basic properties, were given in the amine chapter.
  • Camptothecin is a quinoline alkaloid which inhibits the DNA enzyme topoisomerase I.
  • Reserpine is an indole alkaloid, which has been used for the control of high blood pressure and the treatment of psychotic behavior.
  • Ajmaline and strychnine are also indole alkaloids, the former being an antiarrhythmic agent and latter an extremely toxic pesticide.
  • Caffeine, the best known of these, is a bitter, crystalline alkaloid.

• Toxins

  • There are various types of mycotoxins including, but not limited to, aflatoxins, ochratoxins, citrinin, and ergot alkaloids.
  • Ergot Alkaloids are specific compounds that are produced as toxic alkaloids in Claviceps, a group of fungi associated with grasses, rye, and related plants.
  • Additionally, ergotism can present as hallucinations and convulsions as ergot alkaloids target the central nervous system.
  • Due to the vascular system effects of ergot alkaloids, they have been used for medicinal purposes.

• Plant Defenses Against Herbivores

  • Some metabolites are alkaloids, which discourage predators with noxious odors (such as the volatile oils of mint and sage) or repellent tastes (like the bitterness of quinine).
  • Other alkaloids affect herbivores by causing either excessive stimulation (caffeine is one example) or the lethargy associated with opioids.

• Nomenclature and Structure of Amines

  • Nature abounds with nitrogen compounds, many of which occur in plants and are referred to as alkaloids.
  • Structural formulas for some representative alkaloids and other nitrogen containing natural products are displayed below, and we can recognize many of the basic structural features listed above in their formulas.

• Nitrogen Compounds

  • Other notable nitrogen-containing drugs are drugs derived from plant alkaloids, such as morphine.
  • Many alkaloids are known to have pharmacological effects; in some cases, they appear as natural chemical defenses of plants against predation.

• Radical Recombination Reactions

  • The second is an example of the oxidative coupling of phenols, a transformation that is an important step in the biosynthesis of alkaloids.

• The Evolution of Seed Plants and Adaptations for Land

  • (a) Palm trees grow along the shoreline; (b) wheat is a crop grown in most of the world; (c) the flower of the cotton plant produces fibers that are woven into fabric; (d) the potent alkaloids of the beautiful opium poppy have influenced human life both as a medicinal remedy and as a dangerously-addictive drug.

• Galactosemia and Glycogen Storage Disease

  • In livestock, acquired GSD is caused by intoxication with the alkaloid castanospermine.

• Fungi

  • Many fungal species produce bioactive compounds called mycotoxins, such as alkaloids and polyketides that are toxic to animals including humans, contributing to pathogenecity and disease.