How to Use alkaloid in a Sentence

alkaloid

noun
  • All parts of this plant are toxic because of three tropane alkaloids.
    — oregonlive, 5 Oct. 2019
  • The science of kratom Kratom leaves have more than 40 alkaloids.
    — Kristen Rogers, CNN Money, 26 Aug. 2025
  • All parts of this plant contain toxic alkaloids that can be fatal if ingested in any amount.
    — Emily Deletter, The Enquirer, 11 Apr. 2023
  • The leaves are produced by a unique drying process, which alters their color and alkaloid content.
    — Dallas News, 30 Jan. 2023
  • The venom contains alkaloids that cause intense pain and itching.
    — Tiffany Acosta, The Arizona Republic, 25 Sep. 2024
  • This plant is toxic, and the seeds contain alkaloid compounds that can be deadly if ingested.
    — Steve Bender, Southern Living, 21 June 2026
  • Chemical compounds in the fire ant's venom, piperidine alkaloids, cause the pustule to form over a few hours.
    — Amanda Gardner, Health, 27 May 2024
  • All parts of the plant, especially the seeds and tubers, contain colchicine, a toxic alkaloid.
    — Amanda Fortini Kyoko Hamada, New York Times, 8 Feb. 2023
  • Morphine and caffeine are alkaloids.
    — Kristen Rogers, CNN Money, 26 Aug. 2025
  • In fact, the blue frog is coated in poisonous alkaloids, which paralyze predators after a single taste.
    — Sam Walters, Discover Magazine, 30 May 2023
  • Chicory’s flavor comes from alkaloids (the same plant chemical that makes caffeine taste bitter).
    — Christine Buckley, Bon Appetit, 24 Aug. 2017
  • The green skin contains an elevated amount of solanine, a toxic alkaloid.
    — Lauren Landers, Better Homes & Gardens, 20 Oct. 2025
  • These include flavonoids, polyphenols, tannins, quinones, terpenoids, and alkaloids.
    — Devineé Lingo, M.s., Health, 21 Dec. 2024
  • The plant contains toxic tropane alkaloids, but the fruit is edible, while the rest of the plant is toxic to the digestive system.
    — Sara Okeefe, The Mercury News, 16 Mar. 2024
  • The seeds, flowers, leaves and roots of the plant contain toxic alkaloids that can lead to respiratory failure and death.
    — Marina Johnson, Detroit Free Press, 10 Aug. 2023
  • The bitter bunch contains high levels of toxic alkaloids and must be soaked for several days to ensure safe consumption.
    — Randi Gollin, Martha Stewart, 15 Feb. 2026
  • Even small amounts of the plant can lead to death due to highly toxic piperidine alkaloid compounds that cause respiratory failure.
    — Camille Fine, USA TODAY, 30 June 2021
  • Green Malay Kratom has a high alkaloid content that gives it powerful analgesic properties.
    — Amber Smith, Discover Magazine, 15 Dec. 2022
  • Sandoz scientists isolated a dozen ergot alkaloids in the hope of finding a few that might prove therapeutic.
    — Ellen Ruppel Shell, BostonGlobe.com, 11 May 2018
  • That same alkaloid is also present in kratom products as a result of the drying part of the manufacturing process, Grundmann said.
    — Kristen Rogers, CNN Money, 26 Aug. 2025
  • The user inhales nicotine, an addictive alkaloid present in tobacco, and exhales aerosol.
    — Robert Langreth, Bloomberg.com, 23 June 2022
  • Potency refers to how much of the active alkaloid is present in the product; higher levels may offer more pronounced effects than lower levels.
    — Amber Smith, Discover Magazine, 15 Dec. 2022
  • The hair contained psychoactive alkaloids, which are found naturally in some plants and can induce altered states of consciousness.
    — Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 10 Apr. 2023
  • Kratom leaves have more than 40 alkaloids, organic compounds that naturally occur in plants.
    — Kristen Rogers, CNN Money, 27 Mar. 2026
  • This kratom strain has become well-known all over the world because of its unique combination of alkaloids, which enhances its potency and effectiveness.
    — Sponsored Content, The Mercury News, 16 Feb. 2024
  • According to Apolo, theobromine, an alkaloid in the cacao beans used to make chocolate, makes chocolate toxic to canines.
    — Kelli Bender, People.com, 29 Oct. 2024
  • Kratom lovers turn to Gold Bali for its high alkaloid content and 7-hydroxymitragynine.
    — Amber Smith, Discover Magazine, 15 Dec. 2022
  • Scientists are still learning about its complex effects, which can range from stimulant to sedative and stem from chemical compounds called alkaloids.
    — Emily Alpert Reyes, Los Angeles Times, 15 Aug. 2024
  • Mitragynine and 7-OH are the most studied and discussed kratom alkaloids, Smith said.
    — Kristen Rogers, CNN Money, 26 Aug. 2025
  • The first of these alkaloids, isolated by a German chemist in the early 1800s, was none other than morphine.
    — Maya Wei-Haas, Smithsonian, 6 Sep. 2017

Some of these examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'alkaloid.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Last Updated: