alkaloids
Nitrogen-containing plant compounds
Alkaloids are nitrogen-containing compounds produced by plants, often with potent effects on the human body.
Many familiar drugs are alkaloids: caffeine, nicotine, morphine, cocaine, quinine.
The word reflects their chemical nature—they're alkaline.
Plants likely evolved alkaloids as defenses against herbivores, but humans have found medicinal, recreational, and poisonous uses for them.
Antimalarial alkaloid from bark
- caffeineMethylxanthine stimulant compound
- nicotineAddictive tobacco alkaloid
- strychnineHighly toxic plant alkaloid
- theobromineBitter stimulant from cacao
tonic water · dark chocolate · cocoa · gentian · wormwood · unsweetened · black coffee · green tea
Opioid analgesic medication
- codeineOpium-derived painkiller
- quinineAntimalarial alkaloid from bark
- atropineAnticholinergic alkaloid medication
- ephedrinePlant-derived airway opener
colchicine · pharmacology · therapeutic · analgesic · antispasmodic · dose · potency · extraction
Antimalarial alkaloid from bark
- chloroquineAntimalarial medication
- quinidineCardiac rhythm normalizer
Methylxanthine stimulant compound
- nicotineAddictive tobacco alkaloid
- theobromineBitter stimulant from cacao
- cocaineAddictive stimulant narcotic
- ephedrinePlant-derived airway opener
coffee · tea · coca · guarana · khat · betel · matcha · cacao
Hallucinogenic substance from fungi
- mescalinePsychoactive cactus alkaloid
- DMTPowerful naturally occurring hallucinogen
- LSDPsychedelic hallucinogen
- scopolamineTropane alkaloid for nausea
atropine · ayahuasca · peyote · hallucinogenic · dissociative · trip · euphoria · visionary
Opioid analgesic medication
- codeineOpium-derived painkiller
- heroinIllegal addictive opiate
- oxycodonePowerful prescription pain reliever
- hydrocodoneOpioid pain reliever
opium · poppy · analgesic · addiction · withdrawal · opioid · sedative · painkiller
Highly toxic plant alkaloid
- ricinToxic castor compound
- colchicineGout medication from flowers
- hemlockPoisonous umbellifer or conifer
- nightshadeOften toxic plant family
poisonous · lethal · deadly · antidote · toxicity · LD50 · neurotoxic · cytotoxic
Two-fused-ring nitrogenous base
- indoleFused benzene-pyrrole heterocycle
- pyrrolizidineBicyclic alkaloid base structure
- biosynthesisLiving production of molecules
- extractionAct of removing
quinine
Antimalarial alkaloid from bark
- caffeineMethylxanthine stimulant compound
- nicotineAddictive tobacco alkaloid
- strychnineHighly toxic plant alkaloid
theobromine · tonic water · dark chocolate · cocoa · gentian · wormwood · unsweetened · black coffee · green tea · bitter taste
morphine
Opioid analgesic medication
- codeineOpium-derived painkiller
- quinineAntimalarial alkaloid from bark
- atropineAnticholinergic alkaloid medication
ephedrine · colchicine · pharmacology · therapeutic · analgesic · antispasmodic · dose · potency · extraction · tincture
quinine
Antimalarial alkaloid from bark
- chloroquineAntimalarial medication
- quinidineCardiac rhythm normalizer
caffeine
Methylxanthine stimulant compound
- nicotineAddictive tobacco alkaloid
- theobromineBitter stimulant from cacao
- cocaineAddictive stimulant narcotic
ephedrine · coffee · tea · coca · guarana · khat · betel · matcha · cacao · yerba mate
psilocybin
Hallucinogenic substance from fungi
- mescalinePsychoactive cactus alkaloid
- DMTPowerful naturally occurring hallucinogen
- LSDPsychedelic hallucinogen
scopolamine · atropine · ayahuasca · peyote · hallucinogenic · dissociative · trip · euphoria · visionary · lysergic
morphine
Opioid analgesic medication
- codeineOpium-derived painkiller
- heroinIllegal addictive opiate
- oxycodonePowerful prescription pain reliever
hydrocodone · opium · poppy · analgesic · addiction · withdrawal · opioid · sedative · painkiller · controlled substance
strychnine
Highly toxic plant alkaloid
- ricinToxic castor compound
- colchicineGout medication from flowers
- hemlockPoisonous umbellifer or conifer
nightshade · poisonous · lethal · deadly · antidote · toxicity · LD50 · neurotoxic · cytotoxic · wolfsbane
purine
Two-fused-ring nitrogenous base
- indoleFused benzene-pyrrole heterocycle
- pyrrolizidineBicyclic alkaloid base structure
- biosynthesisLiving production of molecules
extraction · nitrogen · heterocyclic · precursor · Scoville
- animal defensespoison, venom, toxin, toxins, horns
- drugsibuprofen, marijuana, aspirin, meth, cocaine
- organic compoundshydrocarbon, alcohol, alkane, ethane, propane
- Natural Compoundsflavonoids, terpenes, polyphenols, glycosides, saponins
- plant defensesthorns, spines, trichomes, toxins, latex
- Plant Toxinsricin, oleander, foxglove, deadly nightshade, nightshade
alkaloidssimple sugars
Single-unit carbohydrate molecules
carbohydrates · organic acids · monosaccharides · terpenes · flavonoids
alkaloidssimple sugars
Single-unit carbohydrate molecules
monosaccharides · glucose · amino acids · cellulose · starch