Chemical nature of Crude

Drugs
• Examples of different types of Glycosides

• Examples of Tannins
 Objectives

On completion of this period, you would be

able to know

• Alkaloids

• Tests for evaluation of alkaloids

• Types of alkaloids
 Alkaloids

• Alkaloids are basic Nitrogenous compounds generally

Nitrogen is present in a heterocyclic ring present in

plants possessing marked physiological action when

given internally

• Alkaloids in high doses are poisonous

 Alkaloids
• Most of the alkaloids are colourless

• All the alkaloids are bitter in taste

• Optically active

• Occur in the form of salts with citric, oxalic, lactic or

tartaric acids
• Their l-isomers are pharmacologically more active
• Alkaloids are insoluble in water
• Soluble in organic non-polar solvents like Chloroform
Benzene, ether etc.,
 Alkaloids
• Alkaloids may present in various plant organs
Examples:
Seeds Nux-vomica Spinal stimulant
Leaves Datura Antisposmodic
Roots Rauwolfia Antihypertensive
Barks Cinchona Antimalarial
Stems Ephedra Antiasthmatic
Exudates Opium Narcotic analgesic
 Identification tests of Alkaloids
1. Mayer’ Reagent Cream or Grayish Precipitate

2. Dragendorrf’s reagent Brown / Reddish brown

precipitate

3. Wagner’s reagent Brown/Reddish brown

precipitate

4. Hager’s reagent Yellow precipitate

5. Phosphotungstic acid Specific precipitate

6. Tannic acid Specific precipitate

 Reactions of Alkaloids

Brucine gives yellow colour With Nitric acid

Morphine gives violet colour with sulphomolybdic acid

Caffeine gives specific colour with potassium chlorate

 Classification of Alkaloids

• Many classification systems are possible for alkaloids

• Due to variety of sources

• Basic chemical structure, Pharmacological action

 Classification of Alkaloids
1. Tropane Atropine Datura
Cocaine Coca
2. Quinoline Quinine Cinchona
3. Isoquinoline Papaverine Opium
Emetine Ipecac
4. Indole Strychnine Nux-vomica
Reserpine Rauwolfia
Vasicine Vasaka
 Classification of Alkaloids
5. Purine Caffeine Tea

6. Pyrrole & Pyrrolidine Nicotine Tobacco

7. Pyridine & Piperidine Ricinine Castor

8.Phenanthrene Morphine Opium

9. Imidazole Pilocarpine Pilocarpus

10.Steroidal Connesine Kurchi

11. Alkaloidal amines Ephedrine Ephedra

 Summary

In this class we learnt about

• Alkaloids

• Examples of alkaloids

• Tests for determination of alkaloids

 Quiz

1. Potassium Mercuric iodide solution is known as

a) Dragendorff’s regent

b) Hager’s reagent

c) Mayer’s reagent

d) None of the above

 Quiz

2. Vasicine alkaloid contains

a) Phenanthrene ring

b) Pyrrolidine ring

c) Quinazoline group

d) Isoquinoline ring
 Frequently Asked Questions

1. Define the term Alkaloid and Classify alkaloids with

examples?