Alkaloid Molecular Structure
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Molecular Structure Of
Selected Alkaloids

Assorted Animated Alkaloids

Alkaloids include literally thousands of bitter, nitrogenous compounds found throughout the plant kingdom. They often contain one or more rings of carbon atoms, with a nitrogen atom in the ring. The position of the nitrogen atom in the carbon ring varies with different alkaloids and with different plant families. In some alkaloids, such as mescaline, the nitrogen atom is not in a carbon ring. The following alkaloids include belladonna-type (atropine and cocaine), LSD-type (ergine and psilocybin), and peyote-type (mescaline). Some of these have remarkable structural similarities with neurotransmitters in the human central nervous system, including dopamine, serotonin and acetylcholine.



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