Abstract

A REVIEW ON HEALING PROPERTY OF ALKALOIDS IN PLANTS

Girisa Chandran R.*, Jeenu Joseph

.

Abstract

Alkaloids are a class of basic, naturally occurring organic compounds that contain at least one nitrogen atom. Many have found use in traditional or modern medicine, or as starting points for drug discovery. Alkaloids possess psychotropic (e.g. psilocin) and stimulant activities (e.g. cocaine, caffeine, nicotine, theobromine), and have been used in entheogenic rituals or as recreational drugs. Alkaloids can be toxic too (e.g. atropine, tubocurarine). Although alkaloids act on a diversity of metabolic systems in humans and other animals, they almost uniformly evoke a bitter taste. The article covers important alkaloids like atropine, colchicine, atropine, reserpine, caffeine and quinine. Alkaloids are most common in herbaceous plants, but some occur in woody plants, chiefly tropical species. Alkaloids commonly are concentrated in particular organs such as the leaves, bark, or roots.

Keywords: atropine, reserpine, caffeine, quinine, alkaloids.