Alkaloids

Authors: Prof. Dr. med. Peter Altmeyer, Prof. Dr. med. Martina Bacharach-Buhles

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Last updated on: 21.05.2023

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Definition
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Alkaloids are mostly alkaline-reacting, low-molecular and nitrogen-containing natural substances. Alkaloids are formed as an end product of plant metabolism and are found in many food and stimulant plants, e.g. in poppies, nightshade family, buttercups, sour thorn family, fumitory family, dog poison family, umbellifers and butterfly plants.

Effects
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Alkaloids have sedative, cough-killing and respiratory depressive effects. Codeine and noscapine inhibit the cough centre.

Field of application/use
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Alkaloids are used for bronchitis and dry irritable cough.

Undesirable effects
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If ingested, it can lead to indigestion, constipation and possibly sedation. There is also a slight risk of addiction.

Contraindication
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It should not be used during pregnancy, while breast-feeding or in case of existing bronchial asthma. Noscapine should not be used during pregnancy and lactation.

Interactions
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There are no known interactions with other drugs.

Literature
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  1. Schilcher H (2016) In: Leitfaden Phytotherapie, Urban & Fischer Verlag Munich.
  2. https://www.spektrum.de/lexikon/biologie/alkaloide/2102

Tables
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Other drugs for respiratory diseases
Medicinal drugs Indications
Marrubii herba Cough, bronchitis
Pimpinellae radix (Bibernella root) Cough, bronchitis
Nasturtii herba (watercress herb) Cough, bronchitis
Sambuci flos (elderflower) Infection
Tropaeoli maji herba (nasturtium) Cough, bronchitis
Tiliae flos (lime blossoms) Cough, bronchitis, infection
Spiraeae flos/herba (Meadowsweet flowers/weeds) Infection
Apis mellifera(Propolis) Infection, tonsillitis, laryngitis
Rhaphani sativi radix (radish root, black) Cough, bronchitis
Petasitidis folium (butterbur leaves) Allergic rhinitis
Sinapis albae semen (mustard seed, white) Infection
Balsamum tolutanum (Tolu balsam) Cough, bronchitis
Pelargonii reniformis radix (Umckaloabo root, African) cough, bronchitis, infection, tonsillitis, sinusitis, rhinopharyngitis
Polygoni avicularis herba (bird's knotweed) Cough, bronchitis