Synonym: Ergot of Rye, Ergota.

Biological source: Ergot is the dried sclerotium of a fungus, Ciaviceps purpurea (Clavicipitaceae or Hypocreaceae) developed in ovary of rye plant, Secale cereale (Graminae).

Geographical source: Switzerland, Yugoslavia, Hungary and Czechoslovakia.

History: Ergot means french word 'Argot,’ means fur and indicate the shape and attachment of the sclerotia to the infected rye spikes, like the fur which is attached to the body of the birds. Ergot fungus was known to be a pathogen, toxic symptoms were gangrene in the extremities and convulsions.

• This developmental stage is the sexual stage and called as Sphacelial stage.

• The hyphae further invade into the deeper parts of ovary and slowly replace the entire tissue of ovary by a compact tissue called pseudoparenchyma which is hard and dark purple.

• It is called as Sclerotium stage and is considered as resting or dormant stage of the fungus and contains maximum amount of ergot alkaloids.

• If this sclerotium is left uncollected, it eventually falls on the ground and in the favourable season, i.e. spring gives out 'stromata' which are in the elongated form.

• Each stromatum has a globular head and a stalk.

• The head portion contains a large number of perithecia and every perithecium is like a flask shaped structure which contains a number of sacs, each sac containing the ascospores which are thread like in appearance.

• Ascospores are the sexual spores capable of inducing fresh life cycle of fungus by infecting the ovary of rye plant.

• The saprophytic production is much practised now-a-days, because mycelial dry weight gives

• even more than 20 per cent of alkaloids, while natural sclerotia contain less than 1 per cent of alkaloids.

• The process of fermentation 'is properly regulated or controlled. for optimum bioproduction of useful metabolites.

Macroscopic characters Roots:

Colour: Dark violet to black. Internally, it is whitish or pinkish white.

Odour: Disagreeable and faint.

Taste: Unpleasant.

Size: 1 to 3 cm in length and 1 to 5 mm in width.

Shape: Fusiform, triangular and usually tapering on both the ends.

Fracture: Brittle with short fracture.

Chemical constituents:

• Indole alkaloids (0.1 to 0.25%) derivatives of lysergic acid.

• The six pairs of alkaloids are broadly grouped into water soluble and water insoluble categories.

• laevo-form which is medicinally active, while dextro form is inert in action.

• Water Soluble: Ergometrine

• Water Insoluble:

(-) laevorotatory alkaloids (+) Dextrorotatory alkaloids

Ergotamine Ergotaminine

Ergosinine Ergosinine

Ergocristinine Ergocristinine

Ergocryptine Ergocryptinine

Ergocornine Ergocorninine

Lysergic acid Isolysergic acid

Lysergic acid amide Isolysergic acid amide

• Ergosterol and fungisterol,

• Histamine, tyramine, amino acids,

• Acetyl choline, chitin

Uses:

• Ergot and ergometrine maleate (in United States, ergometrine is called as ergonovine) are used as oxytocic prevent the post-partum haemorrhage.

• Ergotamine tartarate is used as a specific analgesic in treatment of migraine. It is given along with caffeine.

• Ergotoxine methanesulphonates (mesylates) are used in geriatric patients.

• Lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) is a semisynthetic derivative, and possesses psychotomimetic action and used in psychiatry,) but owing to its abuse, its use is controlled under Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985.

• Ergometrine and methyl ergometrine have the capacity to directly stimulate contractions of uterine and vascular smooth muscles by interacting with tryptaminergic, dopaminergic and alpha-adrenergic receptors.

• Small doses produce uterine contractions with increased force. and frequency and with normal resting muscle tone.

• Intermediate doses cause more forceful and prolonged contractions with an elevated resting muscle tone, while large doses cause sustained contractions and tetany.

• Methyl ergometrine is generally preferred, because it causes less hypertension.

Chemical Tests

• Blue colour with p-dimethylaminobenzaldehyde (Van-Urk's reagent).

• Ergot + Solvent Ether + Sulphuric acid + Sodium bcarbonate ====> Red violet colour aq. Layer

• Blue florescence is produced when Ergometrine treated with water

• Ergotamine + Glacial acetic acid + Ethyl acetate. ===> Sulphuric acid ===> Blue red tinge colour + Ferric chloride ===> Blue colour deepens red tinge become faint