alkaloids

(noun)

A class of organic heterocyclic bases.

Related Terms

  • gangrenous

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.
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