The alkaloids are those compounds characterized by having a direct biogenetic pathway, derived from amino acids, and an indirect pathway linked to amination.
The alkaloids are molecules that have a different characterization: the amination of a terpene, for example, could lead to a terpene alkaloid, also called protoalcaloid or pseudo-alkaloid, if the nitrogen that is bound to this terpenic compound has the chemical characteristics of a nitrogen with a free electronic doublet, which therefore allows the alkaline reactivity.
In summary, there are therefore two biogenetic pathways that can lead to a secondary molecule being characterized as an alkaloid: a primary one linked to amino acids, the other secondary or mixed, fundamentally linked to the amination of molecules that have a completely different biogenetic way. What is interesting is that the molecule that has an amino group also acquires alkaline functionality due to the fact that nitrogen exposes a free electronic doublet.
The alkaloids are a large family of compounds and within it are divided into characterizing chemical groups: terpene alkaloids (mixed biogenesis), purine alkaloids (present a purine group), and many others. Let us now consider alkaloid drugs; they are drugs that generally have a functional pharmaceutical expression, but also herbal, among which we find:
Boldo
Pretty Woman
Other alkaloid drugs are CHINA and COFFEE ; in fact, caffeine has properties that stimulate the central nervous system and heart function; it is a diuretic drug, stimulates digestion and has a vasoconstrictor action, while quinine is a bitter compound, important in the formulation of digestive products, and has an anti-malarial and febrifuge effect. All this even if quinine and caffeine are very different molecular substances.
Caffeine is also present in other drugs, such as CACAO, GUARANÀ and MATÈ.
We now mention two other sources of pharmaceutical importance linked to the herbal market, as they are included in homeopathic therapy.
Opium poppy
Ergot
