Open main menu
Home
Random
Recent changes
Special pages
Community portal
Preferences
About Wikipedia
Disclaimers
Incubator escapee wiki
Search
User menu
Talk
Dark mode
Contributions
Create account
Log in
Editing
Ergot
(section)
Warning:
You are not logged in. Your IP address will be publicly visible if you make any edits. If you
log in
or
create an account
, your edits will be attributed to your username, along with other benefits.
Anti-spam check. Do
not
fill this in!
==Effects on humans, other mammals and LSD== [[File:Moederkoornpreparaat Methergin.jpg|thumb|Ergot-derived drug to stop postpartum bleeding]] The ergot sclerotium contains high concentrations (up to 2% of dry mass) of the [[alkaloid]] [[ergotamine]], a complex molecule consisting of a [[tripeptide]]-derived [[cyclol]]-[[lactam]] ring connected via [[amide]] linkage to a [[lysergic acid]] (ergoline) [[moiety (chemistry)|moiety]], and other alkaloids of the [[ergoline]] group that are [[biosynthesis|biosynthesized]] by the fungus.<ref name="Tudzynski">{{cite journal |last1=Tudzynski |first1=P. |last2=Correia |first2=T. |last3=Keller |first3=U. |name-list-style=amp |year=2001 |title=Biotechnology and genetics of ergot alkaloids |journal=Appl Microbiol Biotechnol |volume=57 |issue=5–6 |pages=4593–4605 |doi=10.1007/s002530100801 |pmid=11778866 |s2cid=847027}}</ref> Ergot alkaloids have a wide range of [[biological activity|biological activities]] including effects on [[circulatory system|circulation]] and [[neurotransmission]].<ref name="Eadie">{{cite journal |last=Eadie |first=Mervyn J |year=2003 |title=Convulsive ergotism: epidemics of the serotonin syndrome? |journal=Lancet Neurol. |volume=2 |issue=7 |pages=429–434 |doi=10.1016/S1474-4422(03)00439-3 |pmid=12849122 |s2cid=12158282}}</ref> Ergot alkaloids are classified as: # derivatives of 6,8-dimethylergoline and # lysergic acid derivatives.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2011-12-30 |title=Pharmacognosy of Ergot (Argot or St. Anthony's Fire) {{!}} Notes {{!}} PharmaXChange.info |url=https://pharmaxchange.info/2011/12/pharmacognosy-of-ergot-argot-or-st-anthonys-fire/ |access-date=2024-10-24 |website=pharmaxchange.info |language=en-US}}</ref> [[Ergotism]] is the name for sometimes severe pathological syndromes affecting humans or other animals that have ingested plant material containing ergot alkaloid, such as ergot-contaminated grains. The [[Hospital Brothers of St. Anthony]], an order of monks established in 1095, specialized in treating ergotism victims<ref name="mia">{{cite book |last1=Heritage |first1=J. |url=https://archive.org/details/microbiologyinac0000heri_p5m3/page/115 |title=Microbiology in Action |last2=Evans |first2=E. G. V. |last3=Killington |first3=R. A. |publisher=Cambridge University Press |year=1999 |isbn=978-0-521-62912-6 |page=[https://archive.org/details/microbiologyinac0000heri_p5m3/page/115 115] |chapter=5.6.8 What is the role of fungal toxins in food poisoning? |chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=n9x6zLqdjOYC&pg=PA115}}</ref> with balms containing tranquilizing and circulation-stimulating plant extracts. The common name for ergotism is "St. Anthony's fire",<ref name=mia/> in reference to this order of monks and the severe burning sensations in the limbs which was one of the symptoms.<ref>{{cite web |title=St. Anthony's Fire — Ergotism |year=2002 |publisher=MedicineNet |url=http://www.medicinenet.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=14891}}</ref> There are two types of ergotism. The first is characterized by muscle spasms, fever and [[hallucinations]] and the victims may appear dazed, be unable to speak, become [[Mania|manic]], or have other forms of paralysis or tremors, and suffer from hallucinations and other distorted perceptions.<ref name="Miedaner and Hartwing">{{cite journal|last1=Miedaner|first1=Thomas|last2=Geiger|first2=Hartwig H.|title=Biology, Genetics, and Management of Ergot (Claviceps spp.) in Rye, Sorghum, and Pearl Millet|journal=Toxins|date=25 February 2015|volume=7|issue=3|pages=659–678|doi=10.3390/toxins7030659|pmid=25723323|pmc=4379517|doi-access=free}}</ref> This is caused by [[serotonin|serotonergic]] stimulation of the central nervous system by some of the alkaloids.<ref name="Miedaner and Hartwing"/> The second type of ergotism is marked by violent burning, absent peripheral pulses and shooting pain of the poorly [[vascularized]] distal organs, such as the fingers and toes,<ref name="Miedaner and Hartwing"/> and are caused by effects of ergot alkaloids on the [[circulatory system|vascular system]] due to [[vasoconstriction]], sometimes leading to [[gangrene]] and loss of limbs due to severely restricted blood circulation. The [[neurotropic]] activities of the ergot alkaloids may also cause hallucinations and attendant irrational behaviour, convulsions, and even death.<ref name="Tudzynski"/><ref name="Eadie"/> Other symptoms include strong [[uterus|uterine]] contractions, [[nausea]], [[seizure]]s, high fever, vomiting, loss of muscle strength and unconsciousness. Since the Middle Ages, controlled doses of ergot were used to induce [[abortion]]s and to stop maternal bleeding after childbirth.<ref name=lfn>{{cite thesis |title=Untersuchungen über das Verhalten der Secalealkaloide bei der Herstellung von Mutterkornextrakten |first=Labib |last=Farid |publisher=Universität Wien |year=1946 |oclc=58399816}}{{page needed|date=July 2014}}</ref> Klotz offers a detailed overview of the toxicities in mammalian livestock, stating that the activities are attributable to antagonism or [[Agonist|agonism]] of [[neurotransmitter]]s, including [[dopamine]], [[serotonin]] and [[norepinephrine]]. He also states that the [[adrenergic]] blockage by [[ergopeptine]]s (e.g., [[ergovaline]] or [[ergotamine]]) leads to potent and long-term [[vasoconstriction]], and can result in reduced blood flow resulting in intense burning pain (St. Anthony's fire), [[edema]], [[cyanosis]], [[dry gangrene]] and even loss of hooves in cattle or limbs in humans. Reduced [[prolactin]] due to ergot alkaloid activity on dopamine receptors in the pituitary is also common in livestock. Reduced serum prolactin is associated with various reproductive problems in cattle, and especially in horses, including [[agalactia]] and poor conception, and late-term losses of foals and sometimes mares due to [[dystocia]] and thickened placentas.<ref name="Schardl"/> Although both gangrenous and convulsive symptoms are seen in naturally occurring ergotism resulting from the ingestion of fungus infected rye, only gangrenous ergotism has been reported following the excessive ingestion of ergotamine tartrate.<ref name="Merhoff and Porter">{{cite journal |last1=Merhoff |first1=GC |last2=Porter |first2=JM |title=Ergot Intoxication: Historical Review and Description of Unusual Clinical Manifestations |journal=Annals of Surgery |date=1 November 1974 |volume=180 |issue=5 |pages=773–779 |pmid=4371616 |pmc=1343691 |doi=10.1097/00000658-197411000-00011}}</ref> Ergot extract has been used in [[pharmaceutical]] preparations, including ergot alkaloids in products such as [[Cafergot]] (containing [[caffeine]] and [[ergotamine]]<ref name=lfn/> or [[ergoline]]) to treat migraine headaches, and [[ergometrine]], used to induce uterine contractions and to control bleeding after childbirth.<ref name="the_encyclopedia_of_seeds">{{cite book |url=https://archive.org/details/encyclopediaofse00mich |title=The encyclopedia of seeds: science, technology and uses |publisher=CABI |year=2006 |isbn=978-0-85199-723-0 |editor-last=Black |editor-first=Michael |location=Wallingford, UK |pages=[https://archive.org/details/encyclopediaofse00mich/page/n253 226] |editor-last2=Bewley |editor-first2=J. Derek |editor-last3=Halmer |editor-first3=Peter |url-access=limited |name-list-style=amp}}</ref> Clinical ergotism as seen today results almost exclusively from the excessive intake of ergotamine tartrate in the treatment of migraine headache.<ref name="Merhoff and Porter"/> In addition to ergot alkaloids, ''[[Claviceps paspali]]'' also produces tremorgens (paspalitrem) causing "paspalum staggers" in cattle.<ref name="Paspalum">{{cite journal |vauthors=Cole RJ, Dorner JW, Lansden JA |title=Paspalum staggers: isolation and identification of tremorgenic metabolites from sclerotia of ''Claviceps paspali'' |journal=J. Agric. Food Chem. |volume=25 |issue=5 |pages=1197–1201 |year=1977 |pmid=893851 |doi=10.1021/jf60213a061|bibcode=1977JAFC...25.1197C |display-authors=etal}}</ref> The fungi of the genera ''[[Penicillium]]'' and ''[[Aspergillus]]'' also produce ergot alkaloids, notably some isolates of the human pathogen ''[[Aspergillus fumigatus]]'',<ref name="Rao">{{cite journal |vauthors=Rao KK, Rao S |year=1975 |title=Effect of tweens on the production of ergot alkaloids by ''Aspergillus fumigatus'' |journal= Folia Microbiol. |volume=20 |pages=418–422 |pmid=1104424 |doi=10.1007/BF02877045 |issue=5 |s2cid=31459536}}</ref> and have been isolated from plants in the family [[Convolvulaceae]], of which [[morning glory]] is best known. The causative agents of most ergot poisonings are the ergot alkaloid class of fungal metabolites, though some ergot fungi produce distantly related indole-diterpene alkaloids that are tremorgenic.<ref name="Schardl"/> Ergot does not contain [[lysergic acid diethylamide]] (LSD) but instead contains [[lysergic acid]] as well as its precursor,<ref name="Correia et al.">{{cite journal |vauthors=Correia T, Grammel N, Ortel I, Keller U, Tudzynski P |year=2001 |title=Molecular cloning and analysis of the ergopeptine assembly system in the ergot fungus Claviceps purpurea |journal= Chem. Biol. |volume=10 |pages=1281–1292 |pmid=14700635 |doi=10.1016/j.chembiol.2003.11.013 |issue=12 |doi-access=free }}</ref> [[ergotamine]]. Lysergic acid is a precursor for the synthesis of LSD. Their realized and hypothesized medicinal uses have encouraged intensive research since the 1950s culminating on the one hand in development of drugs both legal (e.g., [[bromocriptine]]) and illegal (e.g., LSD), and on the other hand in extensive knowledge of the enzymes, genetics and diversity of ergot alkaloid biosynthetic pathways.<ref name="Schardl"/> The January 4, 2007 issue of the ''[[New England Journal of Medicine]]'' includes a paper that documents a British study of more than 11,000 [[Parkinson's disease]] patients. The study found that two ergot-derived drugs, [[pergolide]] and [[cabergoline]], commonly used to treat Parkinson's Disease may increase the risk of leaky heart valves by up to 700%.<ref>{{cite journal |vauthors=Schade R, Andersohn F, Suissa S, Haverkamp W, Garbe E |title=Dopamine agonists and the risk of cardiac-valve regurgitation |journal=The New England Journal of Medicine |volume=356 |issue=1 |pages=29–38 |date=January 2007 |pmid=17202453 |doi=10.1056/NEJMoa062222|doi-access=free }}</ref>
Edit summary
(Briefly describe your changes)
By publishing changes, you agree to the
Terms of Use
, and you irrevocably agree to release your contribution under the
CC BY-SA 4.0 License
and the
GFDL
. You agree that a hyperlink or URL is sufficient attribution under the Creative Commons license.
Cancel
Editing help
(opens in new window)