Functions :
1.Protective against insects & herbivores (due to bitterness & toxicity).
2.Products of detoxification in metabolic reactions = waste products of metabolism.
3.Source of nitrogen in case of N deficiency.
4.Growth regulators in certain metabolic systems.
5.Source of energy in case of deficiency in CO2 assimilation.
2.Products of detoxification in metabolic reactions = waste products of metabolism.
3.Source of nitrogen in case of N deficiency.
4.Growth regulators in certain metabolic systems.
5.Source of energy in case of deficiency in CO2 assimilation.
Nomenclature :
Trivial names ending by "ine" are used.
- Names may refer to:
1. Plant genus (generic name) e.g. Atropine from Atropa belladona.
2. Plant species (specific name) e.g. Cocaine from Erythroxylon coca.
3. Common name of the plant (vernacular name) e.g. Ergotamine from ergot.
4. Name of discoverer e.g. Pelletierine discovered by Pelletier.
5. Physiological action e.g. Emetine from “emetic”.
6. Physical character e.g. Hygrine from “hygroscopic”.
1. Plant genus (generic name) e.g. Atropine from Atropa belladona.
2. Plant species (specific name) e.g. Cocaine from Erythroxylon coca.
3. Common name of the plant (vernacular name) e.g. Ergotamine from ergot.
4. Name of discoverer e.g. Pelletierine discovered by Pelletier.
5. Physiological action e.g. Emetine from “emetic”.
6. Physical character e.g. Hygrine from “hygroscopic”.
- Prefixes:
1."Nor-" N-demethylation or N-demethoxylation, e.g. norpseudoephedrine & nornicotine.
2."Apo-" dehydration e.g. apomorphine.
3."Iso-, pseudo-, neo-, & epi-" different types of isomers.
1."Nor-" N-demethylation or N-demethoxylation, e.g. norpseudoephedrine & nornicotine.
2."Apo-" dehydration e.g. apomorphine.
3."Iso-, pseudo-, neo-, & epi-" different types of isomers.
- Suffixes:
1."-dine" isomerism e.g. Cinchona alkaloids: quinidine & cinchonidine = optical isomers of quinine & cinchonine.
2."-ine" a lower pharmacological activity e.g. ergotaminine is less potent than ergotamine.
1."-dine" isomerism e.g. Cinchona alkaloids: quinidine & cinchonidine = optical isomers of quinine & cinchonine.
2."-ine" a lower pharmacological activity e.g. ergotaminine is less potent than ergotamine.
- Nitrogen in alkaloids :
Number of Nitrogen atoms.
- Usually 1 nitrogen atom.
- Usually 1 nitrogen atom.
- Some contain >1 up to 5 nitrogen atoms e.g. nicotine 2 N atoms & ergotamine 5.
Type of amino group :
- Primary amino group e.g. nor-pseudoephedrine.
- Secondary amino group e.g. ephedrine.
- Tertiary amino group e.g. nicotine & atropine.
- Quaternary ammonium ion e.g. tubocurarine.
- Basicity :
- Basicity of alkaloids is due to the presence of a lone pair of electrons on the amino nitrogen atom.
- Alkaloids resemble ammonia [NH3] in chemical characters. They form salts with acids without liberation of water.
- They occur as free bases, salts or N-oxides (NO).
