Tropane alkaloids in pharmaceutical and phytochemical analysis.

Alkaloids with tropane skeleton, present in many species of Solanaceae family, constitute important raw materials for variety of pharmaceutical preparations. Although basic facts concerning chemistry and pharmacology of these compounds date back to XIX century, the wealth of data, accumulated recently, has challenged many established opinions, particularly in the field of biogenesis. Advances in analytical techniques which made this progress possible are discussed, in reference to contemporary requirements for specification of active pharmaceutical ingredients.