Alkamides are a broad and expanding group of bioactive natural compounds found in at least 33 plant families. Despite the relatively simple molecular architecture of alkamides (fig. 1), these natural products show broad structural variability and an important range of biological activities, such as immunomodulatory, antimicrobial, antiviral, larvicidal, insecticidal, diuretic, pungent, analgesic, cannabimimetic and antioxidant activities. Additionally, alkamides are involved in the potentiation of antibiotics and the inhibition of prostaglandin biosynthesis, RNA synthesis and the arachidonic acid metabolism, among others. Many plant species containing alkamides have been used in traditional medicine by different civilizations around the world. Many of the plants containing these natural products have been used in the treatment of toothaches and sore throats (Rios-Chavez et al., 2003). These compounds are present in different organs of the plant, such as roots (Heliopsis longipes, Echinaceae purpurea, Achillea wilhelmsii, Acmella oppositifolia, Asiasarum heterotropoide, Cissampelos glaberrima, etc.), leaves and stems (Aristolochia gehrtii, Phyllanthus fraternus, Amaranthus hypochondriacus, Achyranthes ferruginea, etc.), the pericarpium (Zanthoxylum piperitum and Piper spp.), the placenta of Capsicum spp., the fruits of Piper longum, the flowers of Spilanthes acmella, the seeds of the Piper species and tubers of Lepidium meyenii. It is believed that alkamides act as plant growth regulators, promoting or inhibiting the growth and formation of roots in a dose-dependent manner and showing a positive effect in plant biomass production (Campos-Cuevas, et al., 2008). Structurally, natural alkamides commonly have an aliphatic, cyclic or aromatic amine residue, and a C8 to C18 saturated or unsaturated chain (including double or triple bonds, or both) acid, which can also be aromatic. The nature of the acid (carbon chain lengths, unsaturation level, stereochemistry, etc.) and the amine residues are characteristic of each family and genus of plants such that these characteristics serve as chemotaxonomic criteria (fig. 1). Because the nitrogen atom of alkamides is not part of a heterocyclic ring, these compounds are classified as protoalkaloids or pseudoalkaloids.