alkaloid (redirected from synthetic alkaloid)

al·ka·loid  (lk-loid)

n.

Any of various organic compounds normally with basic chemical properties and usually containing at least one nitrogen atom in a heterocyclic ring, occurring chiefly in many vascular plants and some fungi. Many alkaloids, such as nicotine, quinine, cocaine, and morphine, are known for their poisonous or medicinal attributes.

---

[alkal(i) + -oid.]

---

alka·loidal (-loidl) adj.

---

alkaloid

Noun

Chem any of a group of organic compounds containing nitrogen. Many are poisonous and some are used as drugs

---

alkaloid  (lk-loid)

Any of a large class of naturally occurring, complex organic compounds that contain nitrogen and have physiological effects on animals, including humans. Most alkaloids occur in plants, although some are produced by fungi and animals. Alkaloids are bases and usually form colorless crystalline solids with a bitter taste. They have a wide range of effects and are used as medicines and poisons. Morphine, quinine, strychnine, codeine, caffeine, cocaine, and nicotine are all alkaloids.

Thesaurus

Noun

1.

alkaloid - natural bases containing nitrogen found in plants atropine - a poisonous crystalline alkaloid extracted from the nightshade family; used as an antispasmodic and to dilate the eye pupil; also administered in large amounts as an antidote for organophosphate nerve agents or organophosphate insecticides hyoscyamine - a poisonous crystalline alkaloid (isometric with atropine but more potent); used to treat excess motility of the gastrointestinal tract pilocarpine - cholinergic alkaloid used in eyedrops to treat glaucoma hyoscine, scopolamine - an alkaloid with anticholinergic effects that is used as a sedative and to treat nausea and to dilate the pupils in ophthalmic procedures; "transdermal scopolamine is used to treat motion sickness"; "someone sedated with scopolamine has difficulty lying" physostigmine - used in treatment of Alzheimer's disease and glaucoma cinchonine - an alkaloid derivative of the bark of cinchona trees that is used as an antimalarial drug ephedrine - white odorless powdered or crystalline alkaloid from plants of the genus Ephedra (especially Ephedra sinica) or made synthetically; used as a bronchodilator to treat bronchitis and asthma ergonovine, Ergotrate Maleate - an alkaloid derived from ergot (trade name Ergotrate Maleate) that is less toxic than ergot; induces muscular contraction of the uterus and is administered after childbirth or abortion ergotamine - an alkaloid derived from ergot that is less toxic than ergot; causes constriction of blood vessels and is used to treat migraine pseudoephedrine - poisonous crystalline alkaloid occurring with ephedrine and isomorphic with it nicotine - an alkaloid poison that occurs in tobacco; used in medicine and as an insecticide strychnine - an alkaloid plant toxin extracted chiefly from nux vomica; formerly used as a stimulant brucine - a bitter alkaloid poison resembling strychnine and extracted from nux vomica betaine - a sweet tasting alkaloid that occurs in sugar beets organic compound - any compound of carbon and another element or a radical caffein, caffeine - a bitter alkaloid found in coffee and tea that is responsible for their stimulating effects rauwolfia - any of several alkaloids extracted from the shrub Rauwolfia serpentina curare, tubocurarine - a toxic alkaloid found in certain tropical South American trees that is a powerful relaxant for striated muscles; "curare acts by blocking cholinergic transmission at the myoneural junction"