ALKALOIDS: COCAINE

       Ammonia actually (NH3) is a weak base, but there are large number of nitrogen-containing organic compounds it's called AMINES that are also weak bases. The basic amines derived from natural sources,. 20,000 alkaloids are known their study proved.
             Alkaloids compounds vary widely in structure from the simple complex. (Eg) The odor of rooting fish, it's caused large amounts by methylamine.
              CH₃NH₂ has simple relative of ammonia in which one of the NH₃ hydrogen have been replaced by organic CH₃ group. In fact use of lemon juice to mask fish odors it's simply acid-base reaction of the citric acid in lemons with methyle-amine base in the fish.
                    Many alkaloids compound has pronounced biological properties and approximately 50% of pharmaceutical agents used naturally occurring amine. For example, morphine an analgesic agent it's obtained from the opium poppy.
         Cocaine itself no longer used medicine because it is too addictive. But it is anesthetic properties provoked related nonaddictive compounds.   Other related compounds with different activities followed : Xylocaine, Lidocaine, mepivacaine. But prilocaine and bupivacaine and prilocaine have gained popularity. But both are quick-acting but the side effects of bupivacaine last for 3 to y hours while those of prilocaine fade after 45 mins. Below some structural similarity of all the caines to Cocaine itself. 

       This alkalods, today active area of research and innumerable substances with potentially useful properties. The caine anesthetic will become obsolete at some point, perhaps supplanted by newly discovered alkaloids. 
               

1 comment:

Thanks for reading