ABSTRACT
The ergot alkaloids, metabolites formed during sclerotial growth of the ergot fungus Claviceps sp. (secale cornutum), occupy an important chapter in the history of natural drugs. As toxins they were responsible for the mass poisonings in the middle ages caused by consumption of bread made from rye contaminated with sclerotia (leading to symptoms known as ergotism) and for the accompanying socio-cultural implications of ergotism in the medieval society (Barger, 1931). On the other hand, the use of ergot as a medical drug is old and appears to have developed during the same times. It is documented as early as 1582 in a German herbarium (Lonitzer, 1582) when sclerotia wrongly considered as malformed grains were recommended as a remedy for use in gynaecology. However, it took centuries to recognise that ergot per se was responsible for the mass poisonings and that it was a fungus. Thus, the complete life cycle was not described until the middle of the 19th century (Tulasne, 1853). Production of ergot alkaloids in plant-parasitizing fungi is still a risk today; less important for man but of significant extent for livestock breeding in agriculture. These facts indicate the need of constant control of the spread of ergot alkaloid producing fungi in the environment (Tudzynski et al., 1995; Latch, 1995).
