ABSTRACT
We are living in a world where most plants produce secondary metabolites that are not without significance for our health. Though they are poison but can be used as medicines if cautiously used. Some alkaloids, which apparently seem to be harmless may act as mutagenic or tumorigenic. The ergot alkaloids belong to the important group of such pharmaceuticals. Ergot was first recognized as a fungus in the 18th century and was known as a source of drugs (‘a treasure house’ of pharmacologically active compounds) by the beginning of the 19th century. The main ergot alkaloids are ergotamine, ergocornine, ergocristine, ergocryptine, ergometrine and agroclavine. Ergot is the name given to the sclerotium of the fungus Claviceps purpurea and some other Claviceps species that infect many wild grasses and cereals. The fungus produces hard; black, tuber-like bodies which consist of a compact mass of hyphae. These ergots produce a range of up to 40 different alkaloids. Lysergic acid causes hallucinations, agitation and other symptoms. Ergot in rye consumed by the population was the main cause of Holy fire, ‘Ignis sacer’, or St. Anthony’s fire in the 8th to 16th centuries in Europe, and the effects included gangrenous ergotism, burning sensations and hallucinations. In both cases, death usually follows and outbreaks of ergotism caused 11,000 deaths in Russia as late as 1926. Today the problem is recognized and controlled.
