Alkaloids

Alkaloids are found in 20% to 30% of the dishes plant and come thus freely general for. Alkaloids are nitrogen-containing basic connections, which in plants mostly at organic acids bound prevent. In the animal organism in the adrenal glands occurring epinephrine (synthetic suprarenin) can as an alkaloid like considered become.

For plant eaters, alkaloids are poisonous compounds. The plant makes to go these compounds often attack plant eaters. Alkaloids form an important cause of death of cattle that grazes in nature where plants occur like lupines, Delphinium, and cleaning herb. Domesticated animals are subjected to plants in contrast till their wild congeners are no longer natural selection poisonous to avoid.

Most alkaloids are in sufficient quantities poisonous to man. Some alkaloids as atropine and strychnine are classic poisons. In lower concentrations, a number of alkaloids have pharmacological effects, such as morphine, ephedrine, and atropine. Other alkaloids like nicotine, enjoy acquaintance as cheerful compounds.

On the cell level, alkaloids can commit in animals at receptors of neurotransmitters. Neurotransmitters are compounds that see to for the transfer of nerve stimulus between cells of the nervous system. These alkaloids influence thus also the transfer of nerve stimulus in the brain. Other alkaloids grab at transport over the cell membrane, the protein synthesis, or on particular enzymes.

The first plant alkaloid morphine from Opium became discovered in 1803 by the pharmacist F. W. Sertürner and with that put the foundation for alkaloid chemistry. Often come in the plants next to a main alkaloid different side alkaloids, by which the main alkaloid has not however only the function of all of them together. Most alkaloids have a strong effect on the nervous system, work soothing, against cramps, partly anesthetizing, sometimes promoting blood circulation (Mistletoe) or bleeding stopping (Ergot). Other important alkaloid-containing plants are the Opium poppy, Belladonna, and Stinking nightshade.