Table 1 Interaction of some alkaloids with neuroreceptors and other elements of neuronal
signaling. (Source: Refs. [51, 53])
Target
Natural ligand/
substrate
Alkaloid
Occurrence
Acetylcholine
receptor
Nicotinic
receptor
Acetylcholine
Nicotine
Nicotiana, Duboisia
C-toxiferine
Strychnos
Tubocurarine
Chondrodendron
Coniine
Conium
Cytisine and other QAs Several Fabaceae
Lobeline
Lobelia
Anabasine
Anabasis, Nicotiana
Muscarinic
receptor
Acetylcholine
Hyoscyamine
(atropine)
Atropa, Hyoscyamus,
Datura, Mandragora
Scopolamine
Several Solanaceae
Arecoline
Areca
Pilocarpine
Pilocarpus
Muscarine
Amanita, Clitocybe,
other fungi
Sparteine and other
QAs
Several Fabaceae
Adrenergic
receptors
Noradrenaline/
adrenaline
Ergot alkaloids
Claviceps
Yohimbine
Pausinystalia,
Aspidosperma
Rauwolscine
Rauvolfia
Corynanthine
Rauvolfia
Norlaudanosollne
Papaveraceae
Ephedrine,
norephedrine
Ephedra, Catha
Dopamine
receptor
Dopamine
Ergot alkaloids
Claviceps
Bulbocapnine
Corydalis
Serotonin
receptor
Serotonin
Ergot alkaloids
Claviceps
Psilocin, psilocybin
Psilocybe, other
fungi
N,Ndimethyltryptamine
Several plants and
toads
Bufotenine
Virola,
Anadenanthera
Beta-carboline
alkaloids
Banisteriopsis,
Peganum
Mescaline
Lophophora, other
cacti
(continued)
158
M. Wink