Biology Project 2: Alkaloids

Title of the project: Alkaloids and their importance

Aims And Objectives: To know about the importance of
alkaloids in plants
Introduction:
Every living organism requires few general facilities such as
food, shelter, water, etc. But some others need protection from
others as they are constantly being targeted by others as a
food source. This is when Alkaloids showed their power.
Importance of the project:
These days many people around the world are fighting against
the covid 19-virus. Like everyone who is not fighting against the
pandemic wants protection. Like humans, plants also want
protection from predators as they are constantly been targeted
for their food. From this project, we will be able to learn how the
defense and storage mechanism in plants works and all about
its functions and characteristics.
What is An Alkaloid?
an alkaloid, any of a class of naturally occurring
organic nitrogen-containing bases. Alkaloids have diverse and
important physiological effects on humans and other animals.
Well-known alkaloids
include morphine, strychnine, quinine, ephedrine, and nicotine.
Composition of Alkaloids:
Generally, an alkaloid contains at least one nitrogen atom in
an amine-type structure—i.e., one derived from ammonia by
replacing hydrogen atoms with hydrogen-carbon groups
called hydrocarbons. This or another nitrogen atom can be
active as a base in acid-base reactions.
Most alkaloids have one or more of their nitrogen atoms as part
of a ring of atoms, frequently called a cyclic system.

Types of Alkaloids:
Alkaloids are often classified based on their chemical structure.
For example, those alkaloids that contain a ring system
called indole are known as indole alkaloids. On this basis, the
principal classes of alkaloids are the pyrrolidines, pyridines,
tropanes, pyrrolizidines, isoquinolines, indoles, quinolines, and
terpenoids and steroids. 
Alternatively, alkaloids can be classified according to the
biological system in which they occur. For example, opium
alkaloids occur in the opium poppy (Papaver somniferum). 
How are Alkaloids useful in daily life:
 Morphine is a powerful narcotic used for the relief of pain,
though its addictive properties limit its usefulness. 
 . Codeine, the methyl ether derivative of morphine found
in the opium poppy, is an excellent analgesic that is
relatively nonaddictive
 Quinidine, which is obtained from plants of the
genus Cinchona, is used to treat arrhythmias or irregular
rhythms of the heartbeat.
  Ergonovine (from the fungus Claviceps purpurea)
and ephedrine (from Ephedra species) act as blood-vessel
constrictors.
 Ergonovine is used to reduce uterine hemorrhage after
childbirth,
 Ephedrine is used to relieve the discomfort of common
colds, sinusitis, hay fever, and bronchial asthma.
 Quinine (from Cinchona species) is a powerful antimalarial
agent.
  The alkaloid tubocurarine is the active ingredient in the
South American arrow poison, curare (obtained
from Chondrodendron tomentosum), and is used as a
muscle relaxant in surgery.
 Two alkaloids, vincristine,
and vinblastine (from Catharanthus roseus, formerly Vinca
rosea), are widely used as chemotherapeutic agents in the
treatment of many types of cancer.
 Nicotine obtained from the tobacco plant (Nicotiana
tabacum) is the principal alkaloid and chief addictive
ingredient of the tobacco smoked in cigarettes, cigars, and
pipes.
 Examples of few common alkaloids are coffee and
turmeric.
Derived Plant-based Alkaloids:
1. Coffee:
 Coffee uses an alkaloid named caffeine.
 It is a bitter alkaloid used in the making of
coffee.
2. Turmeric:
 Turmeric plants typically contain 0.76% alkaloid

Sources of Alkaloids:
Alkaloids are produced by a large variety of organisms
including bacteria, fungi, plants, and animals.[6] They can be
purified from crude extracts of these organisms by acid-base
extraction, or solvent extractions followed by silica-gel column
chromatography

Alkaloid Source Properties

Ajmaline Rauvolfia Antiarrhythmic,
serpentine antihypertensive
Caffeine Coffea arabica Stimulant,
Alkaloid Source Properties
insecticide
Camptothecin Camptotheca Antineoplastic
acuminata
Cocaine Erythroxylon Analgesic,
coca narcotic, local
anesthetic
Codeine Papaver Analgesic,
somniferum antitussive
Emetine Uragoga Antiamoebic,
ipecacuanha expectorant,
emetic
Hyoscyamine Atropa Anticholinergic
belladonna and
others
Morphine Papaver Analgesic,
somniferum narcotic
Nicotine Nicotiana Stimulant
tabacum
Pilocarpine Pilocarpus Cholinergic
jaborandi
Quinidine Cinchona spp. Antiarrhythmic
Reserpine Rauvolfia Tranquilizer
serpentine
Scopolamine Hyoscyamus Sedative,
niger and anticholinergic
others
Strychnine Strychnos nux- Stimulant,
vomica poison
Taxol Taxus Antineoplastic
brevifolia
Alkaloid Source Properties
Vinblastine Catharanthus Antineoplastic
and roseus
vincristine

Functions of Alkaloids:
The proposed roles of alkaloids in plant metabolism, plant
catabolism, or plant physiology are
(1) end products of metabolism or waste products
(2) storage reservoirs of nitrogen
(3) protective agents for the plant against attack by
predators
(4) growth regulators (since structures of some of them
resemble structures of known growth regulators)
(5) substitutes for minerals in plants, such as potassium
and calcium 
What we came to know after preparing this project:
For all the data that has been collected, I was able to learn
about Alkaloids in brief. Also, everyone should learn about
alkaloids in plants as they have a lot of uses in daily life.