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Plant Alkaloids: Main Features, Toxicity, and Mechanisms of Action

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Plant Toxins

Part of the book series: Toxinology ((TOXI))

Abstract

Alkaloids are one of the largest groups of plant secondary metabolites, being present in several economically relevant plant families. Alkaloids encompass neuroactive molecules, such as caffeine and nicotine, as well as life-saving medicines including emetine used to fight oral intoxication and the antitumorals vincristine and vinblastine. Alkaloids can act as defense compounds in plants, being efficient against pathogens and predators due to their toxicity. Fast perception of aggressors and unfavorable environmental conditions, followed by efficient and specific signal transduction for triggering alkaloid accumulation, are key steps in successful plant protection. Toxic effects, in general, depend on specific dosage, exposure time, and individual characteristics, such as sensitivity, site of action, and developmental stage. At times, toxicity effects can be both harmful and beneficial depending on the ecological or pharmacological context. Different strategies are used to study alkaloid metabolism and accumulation. An efficient approach is to monitor gene expression, enzyme activities, and concentration of precursors and of the alkaloid itself during controlled attacks of pathogens and herbivores or upon the simulation of their presence through physical or chemical stimulation. Detailed understanding of alkaloid biosynthesis and mechanisms of action is essential to improve production of alkaloids of interest, to discover new bioactive molecules, and to sustainably exploit them against targets of interest, such as herbivores, pathogens, cancer cells, or unwanted physiological conditions.

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Acknowledgments

This work was elaborated with the support of the Brazilian agencies: National Council for Scientific and Technological Development (CNPq), Coordination for the Improvement of Higher Education Personnel (CAPES), and Rio Grande do Sul State Foundation for Research Support (FAPERGS).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Plant Physiology Laboratory, Center for Biotechnology and Department of Botany, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Av. Bento Gonçalves 9500, CP 15005, 91501-970, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil

    Hélio Nitta Matsuura & Arthur Germano Fett-Neto

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  1. Hélio Nitta Matsuura
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  2. Arthur Germano Fett-Neto
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Correspondence to Arthur Germano Fett-Neto .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore

    P. Gopalakrishnakone

  2. Brain Institute – InsCer Pontificia Universidade Católica do Rio, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Su Centro de Biotecnologia, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil

    Célia R. Carlini

  3. Centro de Biotecnologia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Su, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil

    Rodrigo Ligabue-Braun

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Matsuura, H.N., Fett-Neto, A.G. (2015). Plant Alkaloids: Main Features, Toxicity, and Mechanisms of Action. In: Gopalakrishnakone, P., Carlini, C., Ligabue-Braun, R. (eds) Plant Toxins. Toxinology. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-007-6728-7_2-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-007-6728-7_2-1

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  • Online ISBN: 978-94-007-6728-7

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