What is it about?
ABSTRACT Alkaloids are one of the largest groups of secondary metabolites from plants, which present nitrogenous heterocyclic organic substances with a basic character, which, in determined doses, have a physiological action on the body and, in large doses, are toxic.
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Why is it important?
Alkaloids are complex organic substances that have carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen, and, most often, oxygen atoms in their molecule. The nitrogen atom is included in a heterocycle (proper alkaloids) or is part of its side chain (protoalkaloids, pseudoalkaloids) and can be tertiary (atropine) or, more rarely, quaternary (berberine). The heterocycles underlying the structure of alkaloids are very varied: pyrrolidine, tropane, pyrrolizidine, pyridinic, piperidinic, quinolizidine, acridinic, quinolinic, isoquinolinic, indolic, imidazolic, purinic, sterolic, diterpenic.
Perspectives
Alkaloids are found in leaves, bark, flowers, stems, seeds, and fruits of plants. A plant often contains several or even dozens of alkaloids at the same time.
habilitated doctor, chemist Monica BUTNARIU
University of Life Sciences "King Mihai I" from Timisoara
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: Biosynthesis and Regulation of Alkaloids in Medicinal Plants, March 2026, Taylor & Francis,
DOI: 10.1201/9781003539179-3.
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