Isoquinoline alkaloids

[2] According to current knowledge, a total of about 2500 isoquinoline alkaloids are known nowadays, which are mainly formed by plants.

[3] The isoquinoline alkaloids are primarily formed in the plant families of Papaveraceae, Berberidaceae, Menispermaceae, Fumariaceae and Ranunculaceae.

The opium poppy, which belongs to the Papavaraceae family, is of great interest, since the isoquinoline alkaloids morphine, codeine, papaverine, noscapine and thebaine can be found in its latex.

[8] Papaverine, in contrast, has an antispasmodic effect if it comes from smooth muscles, as is the case in humans in the gastrointestinal tract or blood vessels.

[9] Tubocurarin impairs the transmission of stimuli in the nervous system, so that paralysis may occur in the affected organism.