Plant alkaloids

Alkaloids at chemicals with a nitrogen in the structure. Most are basic bit this not necessarily so as some may be neutral or weak acids. By and large the alkaloids are cyclic structures with the nitrogen as part of the ring. Exo-cyclic nitrogenous bases are just called amines.

Alkaloids can be found both in plants and animals, but for the most part we refer to plant alkaloids. For a long time, plant alkaloids were though to be incidental metabolic dead-ends which accumulated in certain plant parts, but that line of thinking has changed, and now it is thought that plant alkaloids are part of the plant defense mechanisms against insects and animals.

Alkaloids are often biologically active and tend to be bitter in taste, reflecting their role in discouraging insect and animal attacks. Their effects are often topical and immediate, and it is not necessary for them to be absorbed into the body. Many therefore are bitter tasting, emetic or intestinally toxic. They may also be directly tissue toxic, for example, producing contact dermatitis when applied to the skin.

Alkaloids are often not produced in isolation in the plant and exist as part of a family of congeners. They are found in growing parts of plants, young shoots and leaves, barks and roots. These basket of chemicals produce a variety biological effects, targeting a wide range of biological systems. Because of their versatility in interacting with biological systems, many alkaloids can produce 'beneficial' effects. For the most part, I believe these are incidental. It is therefore a

fallacy, promulgated by new age naturopaths and companies selling natural remedies, that chemicals from plants are naturally 'health giving' and safe.