What is alkaloids?
The term alkaloid, meaning 'alkali-like' has been used to designate:. The compound of plant origin having one or more basic nitrogen atoms in heterocyclic ring systems, which induce pronounced physiological activity and man. Piperine, the alkaloid of pepper, is by no basic and has pratically no physiological activity. Purines such as caffeine (in coffee and tea) and theobromine (in cocoa bean), which stimulate the nervous system, and are heterocycles containing nitrogens, conform to the definition of alkaloids but are frequently not includes in this class.
Opium (containing the alkoloids morphine) and hashish or contain nitrogens. Ephedrine is a straight-chain alkaloid that is produced by animal glands, and has marked physiological activity.
What is alkaloids in food?
Many alkaloids are element of human diet, both in food 🥑 and drinks 🍻. The plants ☘️ in the human diet in which alkaloids are present are not not only coffee seeds (caffeine) Coco seed (theobromine and caffeine), and tea ☕. Leaves (theophylline, caffeine) but also tamatoes (tamatine) and potatoes 🥔 (solanine).
