ALKALOIDS 



6i 



Alkaloid. 

 Aconitine 



Atropine 



Cephacline 



Cocaine . 

 Coniine . 

 Hyoscyamine 



^lorphine 



Nicotine . 



Quinine 

 Strychnine 



Action. 

 Poisonous (used as 



an antip3'retic) . 

 Poisonous (various 



medicinal uses) . 



Emetic (active 

 principle of ipe- 

 cacuanha). 



Local an;Esthetic . 



Poisonous (para- 

 lytic effect) 



Poisonous (seda- 

 tive) 



Narcotic (active 



principle of opium 

 Poisonous 



Febrifuge . 

 Poisonous, heart 



and respiratory 



stimulant. 



Source, etc. 



Leaves, root, etc., of Jlonkshood 

 (Aconitum napelliis). 



All organs of Deadly Nightshade or 

 Belladonna (Airopa belladonna), 

 seeds especially of Thornapple (Da- 

 tura stramonium, Fig. 26) (Solan- 

 aceae) . 



Root of P.';_y(;/!0^nfl ipecacuanha (Fam. 

 Rubiaceae, Brazil). 



Leaves of Erylhroxylon coca (Fam. 



Linacese, Bolivia and Peru). 

 Seeds of Hemlock (Conium macula- 



tum, Umbelliferaj). 

 Henbane (Hyoscyamus niger), Airopa 



belladonna, Datura stramonium 



(Fig. 26). 

 Young fruits of Opium Poppy (Pap- 

 ) aver somniferum). 

 Leaves of Tobacco [Xicoliana taba- 



cutn, Solanacea;). 

 Bark of Cinchona spp. (Rubiace^). 

 Seeds of Strychnos nux-vomica (Fam. 



Loganiaceae). 



The alkaloids as a whole are not characterised bj' anj^ very 

 specific reactions, but thej' are precipitated from solution by 

 many different reagents (e.g. iodine in potassium iodide, tannic 

 acid). They give very marked colour -reactions with various 

 substances ; thus a section of the rhizome of the Monkshood 

 treated with a little 50 per cent, sulphuric acid shows a bright 

 red colouration in the parenchj'ma adjoining the vascular strands, 

 as a result of the presence of aconitine. 



The ptomaines, which are basic in character, are compounds 

 produced during the decomposition of flesh, etc., by the 

 agency of Moulds and Bacteria, but it is not altogether certain 

 that the effects of so-called "ptomaine-poisoning" are solely 

 due to these substances. Such stimulants as the caffeine of 

 tea-leaves, coffee-beans, cocoa-beans, and Kola {Cola acuminata), 

 and the theobromine present in the Cocoa, are derivatives of 

 purine and very similar to the alkaloids. 



The characteristic and often pleasing odour of many Labiatfe 

 [e.g. Lavender, Mint, etc.) and L'mbellifera; [e.g. Fennel), as well 



