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Chemical Composition of Biomass
Published in Jean-Luc Wertz, Philippe Mengal, Serge Perez, Biomass in the Bioeconomy, 2023
Jean-Luc Wertz, Philippe Mengal, Serge Perez
Alkanoids is a class of naturally occurring organic nitrogen-containing bases. Generally present in small amounts in plants, they present very diverse and important physiological properties for humans and animals. The best-known alkaloids are coffein, quinine, morphine and nicotine.
Harnessing the Underexploited Plant Species for Economic Growth in Nigeria
Published in Hajiya Mairo Inuwa, Ifeoma Maureen Ezeonu, Charles Oluwaseun Adetunji, Emmanuel Olufemi Ekundayo, Abubakar Gidado, Abdulrazak B. Ibrahim, Benjamin Ewa Ubi, Medical Biotechnology, Biopharmaceutics, Forensic Science and Bioinformatics, 2022
Ifeoma B. Enweani-Nwokelo, Ugoy Sonia A. Ogbonna, Grace I. Okwu, Onyekachukwu O. Enweani
Bitter kola called Garcinia kola Heckel {akinu (Igbo), orogbo (Yoruba) grows in Nigeria. It produces a reddish yellowish or orange-coloured fruit containing 2–4 seeds (Iwu et al., 1987). Different parts of the plant contain phytochemical, minerals and antioxidants which are responsible for its medicinal and pharmacological functions (Ogunmoyole et al., 2012). Bitter kola is used as snack and stimulant due to high content of caffeine in the seeds. In folk medicine, the plants’ parts are utilized to treat infection caused by Gram positive bacteria, Ebola virus infections, flu, dysentery and diarrhoea (Iwu, 1993). Ezeanya and David (2013) reported that the plant’s bark, seeds and stem are traditionally used in the treatment of throat infections, inflammation of the respiratory tract and acute fever. Garcinia kola nut has been shown in previous researches to possess some antibacterial properties against S. aureus and E. coli (Amalu et al., 2014). Alkaloids possess analgesic, anti-plasmodic and bactericidal properties. Saponins are found to neutralize some enzymes in the intestine which can become harmful. This builds the immune system and promises wound healing.
Greener Synthesis of Natural Products
Published in Ahindra Nag, Greener Synthesis of Organic Compounds, Drugs and Natural Products, 2022
Renata Kołodziejska, Renata Studzińska, Hanna Pawluk, Alina Woźniak
The next group of biotransformed compounds in the enzymatic desymmetrization and kinetic resolution are alkaloids. According to the definition, “An alkaloid is a cyclic organic compound containing nitrogen in a negative oxidation state which is of limited distribution among living organisms”.72,73 Alkaloids are based on the backbone of β-carbline, indolizidine, nicotinic, piperidine, pyrrolizidine, purine, tetrahydroisoquinoline, tropane, quinoline, quinazoline, and quinolizidine (Figure 14.22). The natural functions of plant alkaloids are mainly associated with the interaction of the plant with other organisms – for instance, protection against herbivores or pathogens or the attraction of pollinating insects, seed dispensing animals, or root nodule bacteria. Many alkaloids exert a strong pharmacological effect that has been exploited for thousands of years for both therapeutic and recreational purposes.74
Application of a binary mixture of bio-extract on organic cotton fabric
Published in The Journal of The Textile Institute, 2022
M. Janarthanan, Subrata Das, M. Jayapradeep, S. SumaiyaZainab, S. Venkatesh
Carotenoids compound plays an important role in improving human health and reducing the risk of chronic diseases. The main characteristics are anti-cancer, antioxidant, and antibacterial activities. Glycosides have properties such as anti-microbial, anti-inflammatory, anti-cancer, and anti-tumor activity, anti-allergic, and anti-platelet. They are used as antibiotics in the medical field. Anthraquinones have anti-oxidant, anti-microbial, anti-tumor, and anti-inflammatory properties. It is used for the treatment of autoimmune diabetes and wound healing. Saponins have properties such as anti-microbial, anti-inflammatory, anti-cancer, and anti-tumor activity, anti-allergic, anti-platelet, anti-carcinogenic, and anti-hepatic. It is used to protect from skin aging. Alkaloids have properties such as anti-microbial, anti-inflammatory, anti-cancer, and anti-tumor activity, anti-allergic, and anti-platelet. It has the properties of curing wounds and destroying bacterial formation. Ursolic acid is an indispensable part of the human diet and also a medicinal plant. It has antioxidant and anti-tumor activities. It is also used to treat cancer cells.
Experimental and computational analysis of N-methylcytisine alkaloid in solution and prediction of biological activity by docking calculations
Published in Molecular Physics, 2022
Fanny C. Alvarez Escalada, Elida Romano, Silvia Antonia Brandán, Ana E. Ledesma
Nicotinic acetylcholine receptors are ligand-gated ion channels that mediate fast chemical neurotransmission at the neuromuscular junction and have various signalling characters in the central nervous system; human α4β2 is a nicotinic receptor of nicotinic subtype mostly abundant in the brain [41]. Nicotine is a plant alkaloid responsible for the addictive properties of tobacco; it binds with high affinity to the nicotinic acetylcholine receptors α4β2nAChRs and acts as a full agonist. Research works find new use of nAChR partial agonists for the treatment option by smoking cessation, such as cytosine, which diminishes nicotine support and reduces the pleasure from smoking [42]. To evaluate the basis for affinity binding and eventually identify the structural elements, supporting the receptor selectivity of the NMC to nAChRs receptor, we have structurally characterised complexes of that molecule with acetylcholine-binding protein (Ac-AChBP, PDB:4BQT) and human α4β2 nAChR (PDB: 5KXI) receptors. Full details, showing the ligand position in the binding site with NMC docked into each complex, are provided in Figure 6.
p-Synephrine, the main protoalkaloid of Citrus aurantium, raises fat oxidation during exercise in elite cyclists
Published in European Journal of Sport Science, 2021
Jorge Gutiérrez-Hellín, Gabriel Baltazar-Martins, Iván Rodríguez, Beatriz Lara, Carlos Ruiz-Moreno, Millán Aguilar-Navarro, Juan Del Coso
Much attention has been paid to finding the most optimal conditions for fat oxidation during exercise, perhaps due to its potential to reduce body fat stores (Achten & Jeukendrup, 2004; Astorino & Schubert, 2018; Maunder, Plews, & Kilding, 2018). Particularly, it might be of important relevance for individuals that have the goal of reducing body fat in the long term but also for those who seek to spare glycogen during sport competitions. One effective strategy of relevance is the employment of alkaloids to increase fat utilization during exercise. Alkaloids are naturally occurring organic compounds, generally containing basic nitrogen atoms, and obtained from seed plants, which possess potent pharmacologic effects. It is worth noting, however, that the alkaloids’ efficacy to change substrate oxidation is inconsistent and it depends of the characteristics of the substance and its mechanism of effect (Kim & Park, 2016). p-synephrine (4-[1-hydroxy-2-(methylamino)ethyl]phenol), the principal alkaloid of bitter orange (Citrus aurantium), is commonly included in dietary supplements that claim to decrease body weight and body fat (Stohs, Preuss, & Shara, 2012). p-synephrine is a phytochemical that can potentially induce changes in substrate oxidation at rest and during exercise through stimulation of β-3 adrenoceptors (Ratamess et al., 2015; Ratamess et al., 2016) while the side effects derived from p-synephrine ingestion, such as increased resting heart rate and blood pressure, are generally minimal, especially in comparison to more active substances like caffeine (Bush et al., 2018).