Tropane alkaloid

The chemical structure of tropane

Tropane alkaloids are a class of alkaloids and secondary metabolites that contain a tropane ring in their chemical structure (see the picture to the right). Tropane alkaloids occur naturally in many members of the plant family Solanaceae.

The main classes of tropane alkaloids are anticholinergics and stimulants, although a few others exist.

Anticholinergics

Anticholinergic drugs and deliriants:

• Atropine, racemic hyoscyamine, from the deadly nightshade (Atropa belladonna)
• Hyoscyamine, the levo-isomer of atropine, from henbane (Hyoscamus niger) and mandrake (Mandragora officinalis)
• Scopolamine, from henbane and Datura species (Jimson weed)

All three acetylcholine-inhibiting chemicals can be found in the leaves, stems, and flowers in varying, unknown amounts in the tree-cousin of Datura, (Brugmansiae) more commonly known as Angel Trumpets or Devil's Weed.

Stimulants

Stimulants and cocaine-related alkaloids:

• Cocaine, from Erythroxylum coca
• Ecgonine, a precursor and metabolite of cocaine
• Benzoylecgonine, a metabolite of cocaine
• Hydroxytropacocaine, from Erythroxylum coca
• Methylecgonine cinnamate, from Erythroxylum coca

Others

• Catuabines, found in catuaba, from Erythroxylum vacciniifolium
• Scopine

Non-natural tropanes

There exist some synthetic analogs of tropane alkaloids, see

• Phenyltropanes

They are not considered to be alkaloids per definition.

See also

• Alkaloid
• Tropane