Glossary of Plant Alkaloids

Alkaloids are compounds with an organic structure containing Carbon, Oxygen, Hydrogen, and Nitrogen, and which occur naturally in plants, fungi, and animals. The term Alkaloid itself was developed in 1818 by K. f. W. Meissner, a German Pharmacist. There are now thousands of known Alkaloids belonging to different categories, categorized based on their specific structures and natural origin. The names of specific Alkaloids use a prototypical alkaloid group of the plant family to which they belong.

⇝ Tropane Alkaloids

Found in the Nightshade family, Tropane Alkaloids are characterized by their unique Nitrogen bridge, or Tropane Ring. These naturally occurring Nitrogen compounds are basic, and have an alkaline pH. Each has a slightly different effect.

Atropine (dl-hyoscyamine): A stimulant ant at low dosages (o.5 to 1 mg) leads to mild excitation- while 10 mg of Atropine results in central depression of life functions. Its half-life is 4 hours, meaning it takes the body 4 hours to metabolize half the amount of Atropine ingested. However, symptoms may last up to 24 or 48 hours due to decreased digestion; it is easily absorbed by gastrointestinal tissue and mucous membranes, but does not penetrate the skin barrier effectively.

Hyoscyamine is found in fresh plant material and is a depressant. It converts to dl-hyoscyamine (Atropine) in dry plant material and during liquid extraction.

Scopolamine (d-hyoscine): A hypnotic responsible for fatigue, drowsiness, dreamless sleep, euphoria, and amnesia. Capable of depressing the Central Nervous System at doses as little as 0.5 mg, at higher doses it can cause restlessness and hallucinations. However, it has a shorter duration of effect on the Peripheral Nervous System. It is easily absorbed by the skin.

Solanine is a Glycoalkaloid Allelochemical that occurs in plants as a defense mechanism against competitive encroachment, and directly interferes with the biomembranes of other plants. In Humans and other animals it can cause nausea, vomiting, dry mouth, abdominal pain, mydriasis, and seizures.

Tropane Alkaloids are capable of activating the Pineal Gland. By stimulating Melatonin production, they can induce a dreamlike waking state.

They are also Anticholinergics- a group of substances that block the Neurotransmitter Acetylcholine in the Central and Peripheral Nervous Systems. Specifically, they are Antimuscarinic Anticholinergics; Acetylcholine is the chief Neurotransmitter of the Parasympathetic Nervous System responsible for activating Muscarinic Receptors in nerve cells, which contract smooth muscle. Antimuscarinic Anticholinergics bind to these receptors without activating the muscles, inhibiting nerve impulses that affect the function of involuntary smooth muscle in the gastrointestinal tract, lungs, and urinary tract.

Effects on the Central Nervous System resemble delirium and consist of confusion, disorientation, euphoria or dysphoria, memory problems, loss of concentration, and illogical thinking. They can also cause visual disturbances resulting in seeing warped or textured surfaces, dancing lines and imaginary insects, and so on. Auditory and other sensory disturbances may occur as well- including phantom smells of smoke, visions of lifelike objects, the sensation of nonphysical presences, and more.

Poisoning from Tropane Alkaloids results in acute Anticholinergic Syndrome or Toxidrome for this reason. Symptoms can be remembered via the mnemonic “Blind as a Bad, Mad as a Hatter, Red as a Beet, Hot as a Hare, Dry as a Bone, the Bowel and Bladder lose their Tone, and the Heart runs Alone”.

Long term use of plants containing Tropane Alkaloids can lead to mental and physical decline over time, as their effects on the Peripheral Nervous System receptors can cause poor coordination, decreased mucus production, anhidrosis, increased body temperature, poor urinary retention, photophobia, and cycloplegia.