Alkaloids are a class of basic, naturally occurring organic compounds that contain at least one nitrogen atom. This group also includes some related compounds with neutral and even weakly acidic properties. Some synthetic compounds of similar structure may also be termed alkaloids. In addition to carbon, hydrogen and nitrogen, alkaloids may also contain oxygen or sulfur. More rarely still, they may contain elements such as phosphorus, chlorine, and bromine.
The first individual alkaloid, morphine, was isolated in 1804 from the opium poppy (Papaver somniferum).
Friedrich Sertürner, the German chemist who first isolated morphine from opium.
Strychnine tree. Its seeds are rich in strychnine and brucine.
Crystals of piperine extracted from black pepper.
A natural product is a natural compound or substance produced by a living organism—that is, found in nature. In the broadest sense, natural products include any substance produced by life. Natural products can also be prepared by chemical synthesis and have played a central role in the development of the field of organic chemistry by providing challenging synthetic targets. The term natural product has also been extended for commercial purposes to refer to cosmetics, dietary supplements, and foods produced from natural sources without added artificial ingredients.
The opioid analgesic drug morphine is a natural product derived from the plant Papaver somniferum
The analgesic drug ω-conotoxin (ziconotide) is a natural product derived from the sea snail Conus magus.
Antoine Lavoisier (1743–1794)
Friedrich Wöhler (1800–1882)