What Are Alkaloids?
What are alkaloids? Alkaloids are a class of basic, naturally occurring organic compounds that contain at least one nitrogen atom. Alkaloids have diverse and important physiological effects on humans and other animals. Well-known alkaloids include morphine , strychnine , quinine , ephedrine , and nicotine , piperine, caffeine etc. Many alkaloids have commercial importance as they have different medicinal properties. Alkaloids are found primarily in plants and are especially common in certain families of flowering plants. Alkaloid names generally end in the suffix -ine , a reference to their chemical classification as amines. In their pure form most alkaloids are colourless, non-volatile, crystalline solids . Methods for extraction of alkaloids: Alkaloids can be extracted from plant tissues using weak acidic solvents and can then be selectively precipitated from such extracts using ammonia. Alkaloids can be extracted by various techniques like liquid liquid extraction (L