International Journal of Plant Biotechnology

eISSN: 2456-0162
Vol. 3: Issue 2
www.journalspub.com

A Review on the Alkaloids an Important Therapeutic Compound

from Plants
Arpita Roy*
Department of Biotechnology, Delhi Technological University, Delhi, India

ABSTRACT
Plants have always been a basis for the traditional medicine systems and they have provided
continuous remedies to the mankind for thousands of years. Therapeutic application of plants
includes anti-tumor, anti-viral, anti-inflammatory, anti-malarial activities. Knowledge of the
plants for the preparation of various drugs has been of great significance. Plants are
considered as a rich source of wide variety of ingredients which can be used for the
development of drug. Alkaloids are the important secondary metabolites that are known to
possess therapeutic properties. On the basis of their biosynthetic precursor and heterocyclic
ring system, the compounds have been classified into various categories which include
indole, piperidine, tropane, purine, pyrrolizidine, imidazole, quinolozidine, isoquinoline and
pyrrolidine alkaloids. Alkaloids are able to prevent the onset of various degenerative
diseases by free radical scavenging or binding with the oxidative reaction catalyst. Several
studies have been done in evaluation of alkaloids from various plants for its wide range of
pharmaceutical activities. This review provides an overview of alkaloid drugs that are
derived from the various plants and potential against various diseases.

Keywords: alkaloid drugs, plant alkaloids, therapeutic compounds

*Corresponding Author
E-mail: arbt2014@gmail.com

INTRODUCTION across Asia, Europe, and Africa used

Natural products and their derivatives have
been recognized for many years as a
source of potential therapeutic agents.
Plants have provided a major source of
inspiration for novel drug compounds, as
plant derived medicines have made large
contributions to human health and well-
being. Primary advantages of using plant
derived medicines are that they are
relatively safer than synthetic alternatives,
offering profound therapeutic benefits and
more affordable treatment. Over last 30
years the process of drug discovery and
development particularly that of natural
products, has evolved markedly into
increasingly formulaic approaches. Major
class of natural products initially
discovered and used as early as 4000 years
ago. Previous record shows that people
alkaloid-containing plants as early as 2000
BCE [1]. In 19th century Friedrich
Serturner isolated morphine. This led to
the successful isolations and discoveries of
isolated compounds by several European
scientists including isolation of xanthine
(1817), strychnine (1818), atropine (1819),
quinine (1820), and caffeine (1820) [2].
There are several types of secondary
metabolites present in a plant.
Alkaloids are a group of naturally
occurring chemical compounds that
contains mostly basic nitrogen atoms. This
group also includes some related
compounds with neutral [3] and even
weakly acidic properties [4]. Alkaloids are
produced by a large variety of organisms
which includes bacteria, fungi, plants and

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Alkaloids an Important Therapeutic Compound
animals. They rank among the most
diverse, efficient and therapeutically
significant plant substances. There are
around 5,500 alkaloids are known
presently. The name of alkaloids derives
from the “alkaline” and it was used to
describe any nitrogen-containing base.
They are usually organic bases and form
salts with acids and when soluble gives
alkaline solutions. Major source of
alkaloid is flowering plants i.e.
Angiosperm. They are mainly involved in
plant defence against herbivores and
pathogens. It was found that 20% of plant
species contains alkaloids. An alkaloid is a
cyclic compound containing nitrogen in a
negative oxidation state which is of limited
distribution in living organism [5]. Many
alkaloids have been used for several
hundreds of years in medicine and even
today it’s a still prominent drug. In most of
the human history, alkaloids from plant
extracts have been used as ingredients in
liquid medicine and poisons. Ancient
people used plant extracts containing
alkaloids for treating a large number of
ailments including: snakebite, fever and
insanity.
Generally, alkaloids are extremely toxic
though they have a marked therapeutic
effect in small quantities. They ensure
plant survival against micro-organisms
(antibacterial and antifungal activities),
insects and herbivores (feeding deterrence)
and also against other plants by means of
allelopathically active chemicals [6]. That
is why they are used for medicinal
purpose. They are bitter in taste but often
optically active substances, colorless,
crystalline or liquid at room temperature.
The alkaloid quinine for example is one of
the bitterest tasting substances known and
is already significantly bitter at a molar
concentration of 1 × 10–5 [7]. Pure,
isolated plant alkaloids and their synthetic
derivates are used as basic medicinal
agents all over the world for their
analgesic, antispasmodic, and bactericidal
effects [8]. In humans, most of the
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Roy
alkaloids affects the nervous system,
particularly action of chemical transmitters
like acetylcholine, epinephrine,
norepinephrine, gama aminobutyric acid,
dopamine and serotonin [9]. Some
alkaloids are used as an antiseptics due to
its antibiotic activity e.g. berberine in
opthamics and sanguinarine in toothpastes
[10]. On the basis of their biosynthetic
precursor and heterocyclic ring system, the
compounds have been classified into
various categories which include indole,
piperidine, tropane, purine, pyrrolizidine,
imidazole, quinolozidine, isoquinoline and
pyrrolidine alkaloids [11].
Many researchers have proposed different
classification for alkaloids. One of the
popular classifications that divide whole
class of compounds into three categories
[12].
True-alkaloids are the compounds which
derive from amino acid and a heterocyclic
ring with nitrogen e.g. atropine, nicotine,
etc.
Proto-alkaloids are the compounds which
contain nitrogen atom derived from an
amino acid which is not a part of the
heterocyclic ring e.g. adrenaline,
ephedrine, etc.
Pseudo-alkaloids are the compounds, that
do not originate from amino acids e.g.
caffeine, theobromine, etc.
EXTRACTION AND ESTIMATION
OF ALKALOIDS
Due to the high value of alkaloids,
worldwide researches have tried to find
new and method methods for extraction
and estimation of these compounds.
Extraction of alkaloids started with the
paper chromatography [13]. It was the
easier way for extraction of alkaloids. This
method was rapid and cheaper. Further
thin layer chromatography was used [14].
It was a reproducible method and has low
detection limit as compare to the paper
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chromatography. Wu and Wittick reported alkaloids [20]. There are several numbers
the earliest method for isolation of alkaloid of factors which can affect production of
by HPLC [15]. Brochmann-Hanssen and plant alkaloids. For optimization of culture
Svendsen (1962) first report the successful condition for the maximum production
estimation of alkaloids by Gas changes in physical aspects and nutritional
Chromatography. Other important elements were done. One study reported
methods used for alkaloid extraction are that the effect of salicyclic acid (elicitor)
ultrasound assisted method [16], enhance the production of Stemona
microwave assisted method [17], alkaloids in Stemona sp. [21]. Another
supercritical carbon dioxide extraction study reported that the production of
method [18] and the combination of alkaloid in Atropa belladonna enhanced by
ultrasound and surfactants for the the use of biotic stress that is Aspergillus
extraction of alkaloids [19]. The major niger extract (0.5 mg/ml) along with MS
chromatographic techniques employed for medium containing 1ml/l of NAA and BA
the alkaloids estimation are PC, TLC, [22]. It was also reported that the reverse
HPLC and GC [11]. tobacco liquid medium supplemented with
tyrosine (12.5 ml/100 ml) gives maximum
ALKALOID DRUGS FROM PLANTS alkaloid production in Papaver rhoeas
SOURCE Linn. plant [23]. Rajkumar et al., 2010
In plants alkaloid are not produce in large reported the production of nitidine from
amount in normal circumstances. An callus culture of Taddalia asiatica. They
alternative for the large production of incubated leaves in MS media along with
alkaloids has been employed as in-vitro different combination of growth hormones
cell tissue or organ culture. Tissue culture and the highest yield obtained at MS
provides a continuous, reliable and containing NAA (2 mg/l) and Kinetin
renewable source for larger production of (1 mg/l) (Table 1).

Table 1. Alkaloid drugs from plants source and their activity [10–12, 21, 24–27].
Alkaloid medicine Plant Plant picture Structure Activity Product
Atropine Atropa belladonna Antidote to nerve Abdominol,
gas poisoning Espasmo,
Protecor,

Ajmaline Rauwolfia Antiarrhythmic Aritmina,

serpentine Gilurytmal,
Rauwopur,

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Alkaloids an Important Therapeutic Compound Roy

Berberine Berberis vulgaris Bacillary dysentery Kollyr,

Murine,
Sedacollyre

Codeine Papaver Analgesic Antituss,

somniferum (Painkiller) Codicaps,
Tussipax

Cocaine Erythroxylum coca Local anesthetic Used in highly

regulated clinical
environments

Colchicine Colchicum Gout remedy ColBenemid,

autumnale Colgout,
Verban

Caffeine Coffea arabica Central nerve Agevis,

system stimulant Thomapyrine,
Vomex A

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Deserpidine Rauvolfia Antihypertensive, Enduronyl

canescens tranquilizer

Ephedrine Ephedra sinica Antiasthmatics Amidoyna,

Bronchicum,
Peripherin,

Ementine Carapichea Antiprotozoal Cophylac,

ipecacuanha Ipecac,
Rectopyrine

Lobeline Lobelia inflate Expectorants Citotal,

Lobatox,
Stopsmoke

Morphine Papaver Pain relief, diarrhea Duromorph,

somniferum Oramprph,
Spasmofen

Noscapine Papaver Antitussive Bequitusin,

somniferum Degoran,
Tussisedal

Nicotine Nicotiana tobacum Stimulant, nicotinic Nicabate,

acetylcholine Nicorette,
receptor agonist Stubit

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Alkaloids an Important Therapeutic Compound Roy

Vinca alkaloids Vinca rosea Anticancer Marqibo,

(Vincristine) Navelbine,
Oncovin

Sanguinarine Sanguinaria Antibacterial Toothpastes and

Canadensis showing antiplaque mouthwashes
activity.

Pelletierine Punica granatum Anthelmintics Pelletierine tannate

USP

Pilocarpine Pilocarpus Myotics Frikton,

pennatifolius Salegen,
Vistacarpin

Quinidine Cinchona Antirrhythmic Cardioquin,

officinalis Duraquin,
Quindex,

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Reserpine Rauwolfia Antihypertensive Abicol,

serpentine Briserin,
Sandril

Rescinnamine Rauvolfia Antihypertensive Detensitral,

serpentina Diuraupur,
Rauwopur

Tubocurarin-e Chondrodendron Muscle relaxant Jexin,

tomentosum Tubarine

Vinblastine Catharanthus Antitumor Periblastine,

roseus Velban,
Velsar

Vincamine Vinca minor Vasodilating, Aethroma,

antihypertensive Pervin,
Vincimax

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Alkaloids an Important Therapeutic Compound
Yohimbine Pausinystalia
yohimbe
CONCLUSION
Alkaloids are one of the important classes
of secondary metabolites which are found
to possess important biological properties
like analgesic, muscle relaxant,
antioxidant, etc. These are used for the
help of mankind and found beneficial for
certain life-threatening disease. Certain
alkaloids have shown reverse effects such
as asphyxia, paralysis or in some extreme
condition patient death. Large number of
alkaloid extraction and estimation methods
has been formulated and these make ease
to the researchers to improve the pervious
methods. In the present review, it has been
concluded that alkaloids from plant source
can be utilized for pharmaceutical
purposes.
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