Alkaloid

An alkaloid is a nitrogenous organic molecule that has a pharmacological effect on humans and animals. The name derives from the word alkaline; originally, the term was used to describe any nitrogen-containing base (an amine in modern terms). Alkaloids are found as secondary metabolites in plants (e.g., in potatoes and tomatoes), animals (e.g., in shellfish) and fungi, and can be extracted from their sources by treatment with acids (usually hydrochloric acid or sulfuric acid, though organic acids such as maleic acid and citric acid are sometimes used).

Related Topics:
Nitrogenous - Molecule - Pharmacological - Human - Animal - Alkaline - Base - Amine - Secondary metabolites - Plant - Potato - Tomato - Shellfish - Fungi - Acid - Hydrochloric acid - Sulfuric acid - Maleic acid - Citric acid

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Usually alkaloids are derivatives of amino acids.

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Even though many alkaloids are poisonous (such as strychnine or coniine), some are used in medicine as analgesics (pain relievers) or anaesthetics, particularly morphine and codeine. Most alkaloids have a very bitter taste.

Related Topics:
Poison - Strychnine - Coniine - Analgesic - Anaesthetic - Morphine - Codeine

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Although formally an alkaloid, the class of pyrazoles contain two nitrogen atoms in the aromatic ring structure and are not found in nature. They must be produced synthetically.

Related Topics:
Pyrazoles - Nitrogen - Aromatic - Ring structure

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