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Secondary Metabolites
I. Alkaloids
Definition:
i- Alkaloids (alkali-like) are naturally occurring compounds.
ii- They are basic compounds.
iii- They contain one or more nitrogen atoms usually in a heterocyclic ring.
iv- They usually have a marked physiological action on man or other
animals.
v- The name proto-alkaloid or amino- alkaloids is sometimes applied to
compounds such as ephedrine and colchicine which have their nitrogen in
a side chain. OMe
MeO
OH CH3 MeO
NHCH3
NHCOCH3
Ephedrine MeO
O
Colchicine
By agreement, chemical rules designate that names of alkaloids
should end with the suffix (ine).
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