Alkaloids

This chapter begins by briefly highlighting the history and properties of alkaloid natural products. A summary of the major classes of alkaloids from plants, fungi and bacteria is presented along with representative examples of the major alkaloid types. The chapter focuses on the detailed mechanism of plant-based alkaloid biosynthesis. An overview of alkaloid biosynthesis is presented, and a detailed discussion of the best-characterized classes of alkaloids, namely, tetrahydroisoquinolines, monoterpene indole alkaloids, tropane alkaloids and caffeine, is provided.