Alkaloids. General Introduction

Abstract

Alkaloids constitute a major class of natural products. The compulsory presence of nitrogen/s in their elemental contents confers basic character in these compounds to save a few. Pelletier (Appendix A-22) collaborated with Dumas and showed the presence of nitrogen in alkaloids. The basic or alkali like property of alkaloids was first observed by Sertürner while working with opium constituents and he used the term “vegetable alkali.” The term alkaloid [(derived from “alkali” and Greek oeides (like)] was coined by W. Meissner, an apothecary of Halle, in 1819. It later became a generally accepted term.