ABSTRACT
Alkaloids have been known to mankind for several centuries. The alkaloids represent one of the most diverse and complicated group of secondary metabolites found in living organisms, especially in plants. More than 12,000 alkaloids have been described. The term alkaloid, meaning “alkalilike” or compounds possessing some basicity, was coined by W.Meibner, a German pharmacist. F.W.Serturner first isolated the alkaloid morphine in 1806 from latex of opium poppy. It is difficult to give a brief but adequate definition of alkaloids because they encompass a wide variety of structures. The definition has been revised several times to accommodate the ever-increasing number of alkaloids.
