An amine is any member of a family of nitrogen-containing organic compounds that is derived from ammonia (NH3).
Amines are alkaline, although the intensity of this property varies. They form salts with acids.
Naturally ocurring amines include:
3. Histamine (a local chemical mediator that occurs in most animal tissues)
<An alkaloid is a base containing organic nitrogen and occurs naturally, primarily in plants.
Generally, an alkaloid contains at least one nitrogen atom in an amine-type structure. The substance was named alkaloid (''alkali-like'') because, like the inorganic alkalis, it react with acid to form salt. Alkaloid names usually end in the suffix -ine, a reference to their chemical classification as amines. In their pure form most alkaloids have a bitter taste.
The best known alkaloids out of the 3,000 plus types identified so far are:
Cocaine (from Erythroxylon coca) is a very potent local anesthetic.
Codeine, the methyl ether derivative of morphine, is an excellent analgesic that is relatively non addictive.
Curare, obtained from Chondrodendron tomentosum, ...
Ephedrine (from Ephedra species) acts as a blood-vessel constrictor and relieves the discomfort of colds, sinusitis, hay fever and bronchial asthma.
Harmine is found in the seed coats of the plant Peganum harmala and the vine Banisteriopsis caapl.
Mescaline is an hallucinogenic drug that is the active principle of the peyote cactus (Lophophora williamsil, from the Anhalonium species).
Morphine is found in opium, which is the dried milky exudate obtained from the unripe seedpods of the poppy plant. Morphine is a powerful narcotic used for the relief of pain, though its addictive properties limit its usefulness.
Nicotine, obtained from the tobacco plant (Nicotiana tabacum) is the chief addictive ingredient of the smoked tobacco.
Psilocybin is an hallucinogenic drug that comes from the Mexican mushrooms (notably Psilocybe mexicana and Stropharia cubensis).
Quinidine, which is obtained from plants of the genus Cinchona, is used to treat irregular rhythms of the heartbeat.
Quinine (from Cinchona species) is a powerful antimalarial agent that was the drug of choice for treating that disease until it was replaced by less toxic and more synthetic drugs.
Strychnine (from Strychnos species) is a powerful poison.
Heroin, also known as diacetylmorphine, is a synthetic derivative of morphine. Heroin is made by treating morphine with acetic anhydride. The resulting substance is four to eight times as potent as morphine. Heroin was originally used as a narcotic analgesic but its underisable side effects were found to far outweigh its value as a pain killer.
Heroin constricts the user's pupils, slows respiration, heartbeat and gastrointestinal activity, and induces sleep. Within seconds of being intravenously injected, a warm and glowing sensation spreads over the body. The brief and intense rush is followed by a deep and drowsy state of relaxation and contentment that is marked by a clouding of consciousness and by poor concentration and attention. This state lasts two to four hours and then gradually wears off.
Intravenous injection produces the most rapid and intense euphoric effects.
Heroin is a highly addictive drug and an addict must usually inject the drug about twice a day so as to avoid the discomfort of withdrawal symptoms, which include restlessness, body aches, insomnia, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea. An addict trying to break his body's dependence on heroin must undergo an intense withdrawal period lasting three of four days, with symptoms lessening markedly thereafter. Heroin addicts also develop a high tolerance to the drug. Thus, an addict must use the drug more often or in greater amounts to achieve the desired euphoric effects. Nevertheless, these effects tend to disappear completely in the case of very heavy use, although the physical addiction remains.
DMT (dimethyltryptamine) is a hallucinogen.
D-lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD-25) is a synthetic derivative of lysergic acid (from ergot or Claviceps purpurea), a fungus on rye and wheat). LSD is a hallucinogen.
Phencyclidine (PCP) or angel dust was developed as an anesthetic but was discontinued because of its severe side effects. Its psychological effects sometimes persist for a month. PCP in liquid or crystal form can be injected, inhaled or ingested. Most commonly it is sprinkled on marijuana or tobacco and smoked. PCP is a hallucinogen.
STP (dimethoxyphenylethylamine; DOM) is a hallucinogen.
Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), active constituent of marijuana and hashish, was first isolated from the Indian hemp plant (Cannabis sativa) and synthesized.
These stimulants are of three types having closely related actions on the nervous system:
1.Benzedrine (amphetamine proper)2.Dexedrine (an isomer of Benzedrine)
3.Methedrine (methamphetamine)GHB (gamma hydroxybutyric acid)
Methyl is better known under the brand name of Ritalin
An alcohol is any of a class of organic compounds characterized by one or more hydroxyl (HO) groups attached to a carbon atom of an alkyl group (hydrocarbon chain).
Sugar is a generic term for a category of carbohydrate compounds known as saccharose (C12H22O 11). A group of related compounds are (their coefficients of sweetness are in square brackets):
1. Fruit sugar (fructose or levulose, found in fruits and honey) [1.10-2.00]
2. Sucrose (a disaccharide, that is, a substance made up of two simple sugars or monosaccharides -- glucose and fructose) [1.00]
3. Malt sugar (maltose) [0.60]
4. Corn sugar (glucose or dextrose) [0.50-0.60]
5. Milk sugar (lactose) [0.27]
6. Dioxyribose
There are other sweeteners that are not subject to metabolism and contain little or no caloric value. These sweeteners, which may be either artificial (synthetic) or derived from plants, include compounds such as:
Aspartame or aspartylphenylalanine (marketed as NutraSweet, Equal, Egal or Canderal) has a negligible caloric value and is about 150-200 times as sweet as sucrose. Although its safety is controversial, it is the most widespread sweetening ingredient in diet soft drinks and yogurts. It tends to lose its sweetness over long periods but manufacturers have taken measures to enhance the stability through additives.
Sucralose ia a crystalline artificial sweetener about 600 times sweeter than sucrose.
Thaumatin, a protein extracted and purified from Thaumatococcus danielli, a plant found in western Africa, combines well with monosodium glutamate and it is used in chewing gum.
Mammals feed milk to their young only on the latter's early stages of development. Milk is not meant to be in adults' diet.
Magnesium (along with vitamin D) is needed for humans to metabolize calcium. Non-human milk contains little to no magnesium. Drinking milk can produce kidney and gall stones.
Homogenized milk can be absorbed through the intestinal wall directly into the bloodstream. Then the enzime Xanthine oxidase begins digesting arterial walls, heart valves and muscle.
Recombinant bovine somatotropin (rbST) is a synthetic hormone that promotes growth in cattle and increases milk output by supplementing the BST produced naturally by a cow.
Olestra, a fat substitute developed by Procter and Gamble Co., was approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration (USFDA) to be added to salty snack foods such as crackers and chips. The company launched it under the name Olean Brand Fat-Free Cooking Oil and uses it for a variety of its main snack brand, Pringles. Frito-Lay and Nabisco also market olestra-based products such as Wow! chips.
Kim Dittus, a nutrition professor at Syracuse University, explained that, on top to causing digestive problems in some people, olestra binds fat-soluble nutrients called carotenoids and prevents them from being absorbed. The USFDA stipulated that side-effect problems associated with olestra and the inhibited absorption of nutrients be highlighted on their packages. Currently, on the bottom of the back of every bag that contains olestra, there is an easy-to-miss warning label.
It is currently believed that carotenoids help protect the body against heart disease and cancer. Results from two olestra studies conducted by Procter and Gamble Co. in 1993 showed that people who ate eight grams of olestra a day had a 50 per cent drop in their total blood carotenoids.
Some catecholamine neurotransmitters are:
resveratrol is a substance known to fight heart disease and cancer; it is found in peanuts and in the skin and seeds of red grapes
Ana Soto and Carlos Sonnenschein: nonylphenol and xenoestrogen
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