alkaloid
noun
al·ka·loid ˈal-kə-ˌlȯid 
: any of numerous usually colorless, complex, and bitter organic bases (such as morphine or caffeine) containing nitrogen and usually oxygen that occur especially in seed plants and are typically physiologically active
alkaloidal
ˌal-kə-ˈlȯi-dᵊl
adjective 
Example Sentences
Recent Examples on the Web The user inhales nicotine, an addictive alkaloid present in tobacco, and exhales aerosol. 
Robert Langreth, Bloomberg.com, 23 June 2022 The plant’s tuber, commonly used in traditional Chinese medicine, contains the potentially toxic alkaloid tetrahydropalmatine, according to officials. Dan Adams, BostonGlobe.com, 12 Aug. 2022 Even small amounts of the plant can lead to death due to highly toxic piperidine alkaloid compounds that cause respiratory failure. Camille Fine, USA TODAY, 30 June 2021 When Into the Wild came out a few years later, Krakauer changed his theory: McCandless had eaten seeds from the wild potato plant, and those seeds contained a toxic alkaloid called swainsonine. Diana Saverin, Outside Online, 7 May 2016 The same was done for the remains of Mario, and this time the experts did find evidence of lethal amounts of morphine and delphinine (two toxic plant alkaloids), as well as an opium alkaloid called narceine in the viscera and urine. Jennifer Ouellette, Ars Technica, 2 Jan. 2022 The next step for Odom, according to Zapolin, was to take a trip to Mexico to do ibogaine, a powerful alkaloid derived from the root of a shrub native to Gabon that has been shown to help interrupt opioid dependence. Amanda Siebert, Forbes, 21 Dec. 2021 The couple went to one of the treatment centers in Baja California that offer an underground therapy using ibogaine, a highly potent alkaloid traditionally extracted from the root of a plant native to Gabon in Africa. San Diego Union-Tribune, 11 Sep. 2021 Cytisinicline, a plant-based, naturally occurring alkaloid structurally similar to nicotine, has been shown to aid in smoking cessation. Bryan W. Heckman, Scientific American, 26 Aug. 2021 See More
Robert Langreth, Bloomberg.com, 23 June 2022 The plant’s tuber, commonly used in traditional Chinese medicine, contains the potentially toxic alkaloid tetrahydropalmatine, according to officials. Dan Adams, BostonGlobe.com, 12 Aug. 2022 Even small amounts of the plant can lead to death due to highly toxic piperidine alkaloid compounds that cause respiratory failure. Camille Fine, USA TODAY, 30 June 2021 When Into the Wild came out a few years later, Krakauer changed his theory: McCandless had eaten seeds from the wild potato plant, and those seeds contained a toxic alkaloid called swainsonine. Diana Saverin, Outside Online, 7 May 2016 The same was done for the remains of Mario, and this time the experts did find evidence of lethal amounts of morphine and delphinine (two toxic plant alkaloids), as well as an opium alkaloid called narceine in the viscera and urine. Jennifer Ouellette, Ars Technica, 2 Jan. 2022 The next step for Odom, according to Zapolin, was to take a trip to Mexico to do ibogaine, a powerful alkaloid derived from the root of a shrub native to Gabon that has been shown to help interrupt opioid dependence. Amanda Siebert, Forbes, 21 Dec. 2021 The couple went to one of the treatment centers in Baja California that offer an underground therapy using ibogaine, a highly potent alkaloid traditionally extracted from the root of a plant native to Gabon in Africa. San Diego Union-Tribune, 11 Sep. 2021 Cytisinicline, a plant-based, naturally occurring alkaloid structurally similar to nicotine, has been shown to aid in smoking cessation. Bryan W. Heckman, Scientific American, 26 Aug. 2021 See More Word History
First Known Use
1820, in the meaning defined above
Medical Definition
alkaloid
noun
al·ka·loid ˈal-kə-ˌlȯid
: any of numerous usually colorless, complex, and bitter organic bases (as morphine or caffeine) containing nitrogen and usually oxygen that occur especially in seed plants and are typically physiologically active