Phytochemistry-Quiz 4 Alkaloids

Front 1

What element from the periodic table is found in all Alkaloids?

Back 1

Nitrogen

Front 2

What are 2 proposed functions of Alkaloids within the plant?

Back 2

1. Poison to protect plants
2. End products of detoxification
3. Regulatory growth factor
4. Nitrogen reserves

Front 3

What are 2 common effects of tropane alkaloids within the body?

Back 3

1. Antisecretory effects
2. Suppress gastric secretions
3. Decrease nasal and sinus secretions

Front 4

How many alkaloids are thought to exist?

Back 4

10,000 identified alkaloids, and about one new alkaloid is described in scientific journals daily.

Front 5

How do alkaloids get their name?

Back 5

Persons name who first found compound, latin name of plant or physical action in the body.

Front 6

What is the difference in the structure between Pyrrolidine and Piperidine alkaloids?

Back 6

Pyrrolidine is 5 membered, piperidine is 6-membered.

Front 7

What plant does Lobeline come from?

Back 7

Lobelia inflata, L.nicotinaefolia and L.hassleri

Front 8

What effects does it have in the body?

Back 8

Lobeline produces pharmacological effects similiar to but weaker than those of nicotine on peripheral circulation, neuromuscular junctions, and the central nervous system. It stimulates the respiratory center and induces coughing. Lobeline, being similiar to nicotine, has been added to commercial preparations intended to help with tobacco withdrawal.

Front 9

Name 3 plants that contain tropane alkaloids?

Back 9

Thornapple and Jimsonweed (Datura stramonium), Angel's Trumpet (Brugmansia spp.), Henbane (Hyoscyamus niger), Belladona or Deadly nightshade (Atropa belladona), European Mandrake (Mandragora officinarum), Coca (Erythroxylum coca)

Front 10

What is a predominant feature of tropane alkaloids?

Back 10

Their ability to produce hallucinations and delirium.

Front 11

What are some of the toxicity symptoms of tropane alkaloids?

Back 11

Skin rash and flushing, mouth dryness, difficult urination, eye pain, blurred vision and light sensitivity.

Front 12

What plants do you find scopolamine in?

Back 12

Members of the Solonaceae familiy and Brugmansia species, Sacred Datura (Datura wightii, D.meteloides, D.metel) and Henbane (Hyoscyamus niger).

Front 13

What are some of scopolamine's actions in the body?

Back 13

Scopolamine is widely used to help prevent motion sickness in the form of a transdermal patch. It can be used as an antispasmodic sometimes employed in the treatment of Parkinsonism. This chemical was also used in 1915-1960 during childbirth and created "twilight sleep". It was used for its anaesthetic and amnesia causing effects.

Front 14

Name 2 plant families that contain Pyrrolizidine Alkaloids?

Back 14

350 species of the plant families, Apocynaceae, Asteraceae, Boraginaceae, Celestraceae, Euphorbiaceae, Fabaceae, Orchidaceae, Poaceae, Ranunculaceae, Rhicophoraceae, Santalaceae, Sapotaceae, and Srophulariaceae.

Front 15

How can you tell a Pyrrolizidine Alkaloid (PA) is toxic or not?

Back 15

All toxic PA's contain a double bond between the 1 and 2 position, while PA's with saturated necine bases are nontoxic. The simple compounds are non-toxic or mildly toxic, the monoesters and diesters exhibit mild to significant toxicity and the macrocyclic compounds are potentially hepatotoxic and/or hepatocarcinogenic.

Front 16

What are the concentrations of PA's in the leaves and roots of Comfrey (symphytum officinalis)?

Back 16

0.02-0.18% in the leaves and 0.25-0.29% in the roots.

Front 17

Do young or mature leaves have higher concentrations of PA's?

Back 17

In general, young leaves have a higher concentration of PA's than mature leaves.

Front 18

What plants do you find caffeine in?

Back 18

Coffee (Coffea arabica)
Tea (Camellia sinensis)
Mate (Ilex paraguariensis)
Guarana (Paullinia cupana)
Kola (Cola acuminata)

Front 19

What type of alkaloid is caffeine?

Back 19

A Purine Alkaloid

Front 20

What effects does the Purine Alkaloid caffeine have in the body?

Back 20

Its a diuretic and stimulates the respiratory, cardiovascular, and central nervous system. Judicious use increases mental acuity; overuse can lead to mental exhaustion, kidney stress, anxiety, insomnia, impatience, and aggression.

Front 21

What plant does morphine come from?

Back 21

Opium poppy (Papaver somniferum)

Front 22

What actions does morphine have in the body?

Back 22

Powerful analgesic, antispasmodic, narcotic, sedative, and antitussive.

Front 23

What is a lethal dose of morphine in humans?

Back 23

The lethal dose in humans is between 1 and 10mg.

Front 24

How is morphine used clinically?

Back 24

The gold standard, or benchmark, of analgesics used to relieve severe or agonizing pain and suffering.

Front 25

What plants contain L-ephedrine?

Back 25

Leaves and stems of Ma Huang (Ephedra spp, including E.sinica, E.equisetina, E.gerardiana and others).

Front 26

What effect does it have on the body?

Back 26

It possesses sympathomimetic activity and produces peripheral vasoconstriction and elevated blood pressure. It is also a central nervous system stimulant. It is used as a bronchodilator and respiratory stimulant in asthma and as a vasoconstrictor of mucous membranes in rhinitis and sinusitis.

Front 27

What plants do you find Indole in?

Back 27

Indole occurs in the flowers of Sauromatum guttatum, Arum maculatum, Dracunculus vulgaris, and Jasminum and Citrus spp.

Front 28

What is the aroma of Indole?

Back 28

It has an intense fecal odour, which is used by plants to attract pollinators. At very low concentrations, however, it has a flowery smell.

Front 29

Name 2 entheogenic B-Carboline compounds?

Back 29

Harmine, Harmaline, Mescaline,Muscarine, Psilocin, Psilocybin.

Front 30

What organism contains muscarine?

Back 30

Fly agaric mushroom (Amanita muscaria) and some species of Inocybe and Clitocybe.

Front 31

What organism contains Psilocybin?

Back 31

Teonanacatl (Psilocybe mexicana) and other blue-staining Psilocybe spp. mushrooms.

Front 32

What are some physiological effects of psilocybin and psilocin?

Back 32

Intellectual physical relaxation and perceptual distortions of time and space, tachycardia (elevated heart rate), dilated pupils, restlessness or arousal, euphoria, open and closed eye visuals (common at medium to high doses), synesthesia (eg. hearing colours and seeing sounds), increased body temperature, headache, sweating and chills, and nausea.

Front 33

Are there any toxicity or addictive issues with psilocybin and psilocin?

Back 33

There is virtually no direct lethality. There is virtually no withdrawal syndrome when chronic use of this drug is ceased.

Front 34

What physical property in the mushroom lets you know the presence of psilocybin/psilocin?

Back 34

Blue staining when bruised.

Front 35

What health conditions (have clinical studies found) benefit from psilocybin use?

Back 35

Cancer, cluster headaches and OCD

Front 36

What plants contain Serotonin?

Back 36

Bananas (Musa spp.), tomatoes and the stinging hairs of the Nettle (Urtica dioica).

Front 37

What actions does it have in the body?

Back 37

Regulation of mood, appetite, sleep, as well as muscle contraction. It also has some cognitive functions, including in memory and learning.

Front 38

What plant contains Yohimbine?

Back 38

Yohimbe bark (Pausinystalia yohimbe)

Front 39

What is Yohimbe most commonly used for?

Back 39

Sexual dysfunction including orgasmic dysfunction, impotence and low semen count.