Q.61. Match the following alkaloids with their uses and source plants in CORRECT combination
Alkaloid                                                            Use                                           Source plant
P. Morphine                                                   i. Anti-cancer                           1. Cinchona officinalis
Q. Quinine                                                      ii. Analgesic                              2. Catharanthus roseus
R. Atropine                                                     iii. Anti-cholinergic                 3. Papaver somniferum
S. Vinblastine                                                 iv. Anti-malarial                      4. Hyoscyamus niger
(A) P-ii-3, Q-iv-1, R-iii-4, S-i-2
(B) P-ii-1, Q-i-3, R-iv-4, S-iii-2
(C) P-ii-2, Q-iv-1, R-i-4, S-iii-3
(D) P-iii-4, Q-ii-1, R-iv-3, S-i-2

The correct answer is (A) P-ii-3, Q-iv-1, R-iii-4, S-i-2. This combination correctly matches each alkaloid with its primary therapeutic use and its well-known source plant. Each wrong option mixes either the use or the source plant.

Correct matching of alkaloids, uses and plants

The question lists four important alkaloids and asks for the correct combination of their clinical use and source plant:

• Morphine – a powerful analgesic obtained from Papaver somniferum (opium poppy).

• Quinine – a classic anti-malarial alkaloid from Cinchona officinalis bark.

• Atropine – an anti-cholinergic (parasympatholytic) drug from Hyoscyamus niger and related Solanaceae plants.

• Vinblastine – an anti-cancer (antineoplastic) vinca alkaloid isolated from Catharanthus roseus (periwinkle).

So, the correct key is:

• P. Morphine → ii. Analgesic → 3. Papaver somniferum

• Q. Quinine → iv. Anti-malarial → 1. Cinchona officinalis

• R. Atropine → iii. Anti-cholinergic → 4. Hyoscyamus niger

• S. Vinblastine → i. Anti-cancer → 2. Catharanthus roseus

This matches option (A).

Explanation of each correct pair

Morphine – Analgesic – Papaver somniferum

• Morphine is a prototypical opioid used as a strong analgesic for severe pain (e.g., post‑operative, cancer pain).

• It is the main natural opiate isolated from the latex of Papaver somniferum (opium poppy), where it occurs as the most abundant alkaloid.

Thus, P-ii-3 is correct.

Quinine – Anti-malarial – Cinchona officinalis

• Quinine is a classic anti-malarial drug, historically used in treating Plasmodium infections, especially falciparum malaria.

• It is obtained from the bark of Cinchona species, particularly Cinchona officinalis, which is rich in quinoline alkaloids.

Thus, Q-iv-1 is correct.

Atropine – Anti-cholinergic – Hyoscyamus niger

• Atropine is a anti-cholinergic (muscarinic antagonist) used to dilate pupils, treat bradycardia and as a pre‑anaesthetic medication.

• It is a tropane alkaloid obtained from plants of the Solanaceae family, including Hyoscyamus niger (henbane), Atropa belladonna and others.

Thus, R-iii-4 is correct.

Vinblastine – Anti-cancer – Catharanthus roseus

• Vinblastine is a vinca alkaloid used as an anti-cancer (antineoplastic) drug, particularly in Hodgkin’s lymphoma and some solid tumors.

• It is isolated from Catharanthus roseus (Madagascar periwinkle), which is a famous source of anticancer alkaloids like vincristine and vinblastine.

Thus, S-i-2 is correct.

Why the other options are incorrect

Option (B) – P-ii-1, Q-i-3, R-iv-4, S-iii-2

• P-ii is correct (Morphine is analgesic), but linking it to 1 (Cinchona officinalis) is wrong, because morphine comes from Papaver somniferum, not Cinchona.

• Q-i-3 wrongly states that quinine is anti‑cancer and from Papaver somniferum; quinine is anti‑malarial from Cinchona, not an opioid from poppy.

• R-iv-4 calls atropine an anti‑malarial; atropine is not used for malaria, it is anti‑cholinergic.

• S-iii-2 assigns anti‑cholinergic action to vinblastine; vinblastine is antineoplastic, not an autonomic blocking drug.

Because multiple pairs are wrong, option (B) is incorrect.

Option (C) – P-ii-2, Q-iv-1, R-i-4, S-iii-3

• P-ii is correct for use, but 2 (Catharanthus roseus) is not the source of morphine; morphine comes from Papaver somniferum, not periwinkle.

• Q-iv-1 is correct for quinine (anti‑malarial from Cinchona officinalis), so this subpair alone is right.

• R-i-4 wrongly claims atropine is anti‑cancer; atropine is not used as an anticancer drug, it is anti‑cholinergic.

• S-iii-3 wrongly makes vinblastine an anti‑cholinergic from Papaver somniferum; vinblastine is anticancer from Catharanthus, not from poppy and not anticholinergic.

So only one line is correct; the whole option is incorrect.

Option (D) – P-iii-4, Q-ii-1, R-iv-3, S-i-2

• P-iii-4 says morphine is anti‑cholinergic from Hyoscyamus niger; morphine is an opioid analgesic from Papaver somniferum, not a tropane from henbane.

• Q-ii-1 calls quinine an analgesic from Cinchona officinalis; although Cinchona is the right plant, quinine is primarily anti‑malarial, not used as a standard strong analgesic.

• R-iv-3 wrongly assigns anti‑malarial activity and Papaver somniferum source to atropine; atropine is anti‑cholinergic from Solanaceae plants.

• S-i-2 correctly states vinblastine is anti‑cancer from Catharanthus roseus, but this single correct line cannot make the whole option right.

Therefore, option (D) is also incorrect.

Summary table for quick revision

Using this mapping, the only fully correct choice is option (A).