alkaloid

(al’kal-oid) (alkali + Gr. εἶδος form]. Any alkaline or basic principle of vegetable ongin. The alkaloids are nearly all unsaturated ammonia compounds or amins, and act like ammonia in combining with acids to form crystalline salts. amimal a., a ptomain or leukoma in. artificial a., an alkaloid that is made artificially by chemic proce es. cadaveric a., putrefactive a., a ptomain.