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Plants as a Source of Isoquinoline Alkaloids

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The Chemistry and Biology of Isoquinoline Alkaloids

Part of the book series: Proceedings in Life Sciences ((LIFE SCIENCES))

Abstract

Mankind has long made use of plants containing isoquinoline alkaloids as active principles for medicinal and other purposes, and they have proved to be both a boon and a curse. In the sections that follow these two aspects will be illustrated in a largely historical discussion using Papaver somniferum, Argemone mexicana, and Curare as examples; at the same time, some of the reasons for the continuing interest in this field will become clear. An additional motive for such a discussion is that it is with isoquinoline compounds that the whole field of alkaloid research may be said to have begun. The final section is a more general account of the distribution of isoquinoline alkaloids in the plant kingdom, together with an indication of their supposed significance.

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  1. Pharmacognosy Research Laboratories, Department of Pharmacy, Chelsea College, University of London, Manresa Road, London, SW3 6LX, UK

    N. G. Bisset

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  1. N. G. Bisset
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pharmacognosy, The School of Pharmacy, Brunswick Square, WC1N 1AX, London, UK

    J. David Phillipson  & Margaret F. Roberts  & 

  2. Pharmazeutische Biologie, Universität München, Karlstraße 29, 8000, München 2, Germany

    M. H. Zenk

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Bisset, N.G. (1985). Plants as a Source of Isoquinoline Alkaloids. In: Phillipson, J.D., Roberts, M.F., Zenk, M.H. (eds) The Chemistry and Biology of Isoquinoline Alkaloids. Proceedings in Life Sciences. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-70128-3_1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-70128-3_1

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