Steroidal Alkaloids : Sources, Chemical Nature and Uses

Sources of Steroidal Alkaloids

Important drugs which belong to steroidal alkaloids belongs to Solanum species, kurchi bark and veratrum.

Chemical Principles of Steroidal Alkaloids:

The active chemical principles of these drugs contain mainly steroidal entity (cyclopenteno phenanthrene) and a basic nitrogen.

Uses of Steroidal Alkaloids:

Steroidal Alkaloids are used as medicines in many instances such as in the case of kurchi and veratrum, or as a precursor for synthesis of various other steroids as in solanum species.

They belong to either C21 or C27 group of steroids.