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
Examples of alkaloid in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Coffee Coffee contains beneficial plant nutrients, including chlorogenic acids, polyphenolics, terpenoids, and alkaloids.
—
Isabel Vasquez Rd Ldn, Health, 2 Apr. 2025
Natural Compounds as Potential Drugs Many modern drugs originate from medicinal herbs, which contain active compounds like alkaloids, glycosides, polyphenols, and terpenes.
—Jenny Lehmann, Discover Magazine, 12 Mar. 2025
Berberine is a natural compound called an alkaloid that’s extracted from a variety of plants, including goldenseal, European barberry, Oregon grape, phellodendron, and tree turmeric.
—Alyssa Hui-Anderson, Verywell Health, 5 Mar. 2025
Another drug listed in the report, mitragynine is a naturally occurring indole alkaloid found in the leaves of a psychoactive medicinal plant native to Southeast Asia, according to the National Institutes of Health.
—Katie Nixon, The Tennessean, 15 May 2024
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Isabel Vasquez Rd Ldn, Health, 2 Apr. 2025
Natural Compounds as Potential Drugs Many modern drugs originate from medicinal herbs, which contain active compounds like alkaloids, glycosides, polyphenols, and terpenes.
—Jenny Lehmann, Discover Magazine, 12 Mar. 2025
Berberine is a natural compound called an alkaloid that’s extracted from a variety of plants, including goldenseal, European barberry, Oregon grape, phellodendron, and tree turmeric.
—Alyssa Hui-Anderson, Verywell Health, 5 Mar. 2025
Another drug listed in the report, mitragynine is a naturally occurring indole alkaloid found in the leaves of a psychoactive medicinal plant native to Southeast Asia, according to the National Institutes of Health.
—Katie Nixon, The Tennessean, 15 May 2024
See All Example Sentences for alkaloid
Cite this Entry
“Alkaloid.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/alkaloid. Accessed 15 Apr. 2025.
Copy CitationMedical 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
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