Alkaloids

Introduction
General Characteristics
General Methods of determination of structure
Introduction: definition of alkaloid have with as study in alkaloids
have progressed

Alkaloids means alkali like, basic in nature

Originally the name alkaloid was given to all organic bases isolated
from plants

Konig (1880) suggested alkaloids should be defined as naturally

occurring organic bases which contain pyridine ring

As per Ladenburg, Alkaloids are natural plant product having basic

character and containing at least one nitrogen in heterocyclic ring
Considering all the previous definitions
Alkaloids may be defined as Organic bases of plant origin, containing a
nitrogen heterocycle with strong physiological activity. Most of them are
chiral (laevorotatory)

Alkaloids are generally solids

-Colourless (few are coloured e.g. berberine is yellow)
-Crystalline (Some alkaloids e.g. nicotine, coniine liquids soluble in water)
-Non Volatile
-insoluble in water
-Soluble in organic solvents e.g. ethanol, chloroform, ether
-Bitter in taste
General Methods for determining structure

Ziesel Method: It is used to determine the presence and number of methoxyl

groups. The alkaloid is heated with conc. Hydriodic acid at its boiling point
(126o C). The methoxyl groups are therby converted into methyl iodide, which
is then absorbed by ethanolic silver nitrate and silver iodide is weighed
Herzig-Meyer Method: It is used to determine the presence and number of N-
Methyl group. The alkaloid is heated with conc. Hydriodic acid under pressure
( at 150 to 300o C). The N-Me are therby converted into methyl iodide, which
is then absorbed by ethanolic silver nitrate and silver iodide is weighed.
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