ERGOT 221 



comb, all characteristic effects of ergot, but does not produce convul- 

 sions. It is readily convertible into its lac tone ergotinine (Kraft) which 

 is crystalline but inactive. It is soluble in alcohol but insoluble in water. 



A second active constituent is tyrosamine (Barger, 1909) also called 

 ergotamine. It is parahydroxyphenylethylamine, a crystalline base 

 contained in putrid meat (Barger and Walpole, 1909) and derivable 

 from tyrosine, a constituent of muscular tissue by loss of C0 2 . This 

 base is soluble in water and like ergotoxine causes contraction of the 

 uterus and rise in blood pressure. It is more stable than ergotoxine 

 and is the chief active constituent in the official preparations of ergot. 



A third active constituent is histamine (/3-aminoethylglyoxaline) 

 or y8-iminazolylethylamine ; also called ergotidine) a based erivable 

 from histidine, also a constituent of muscle, by loss of CO, just as 

 tyrosamine is derivable from tyrosine. Histamine is exceedingly 

 potent, soluble in water, and causes contraction of the non-pregnant 

 uterus but lowers the blood pressure. 



To these three bases the activity of ergot is mainly to be ascribed. 

 Other but much weaker constituents are isoamylamine (derivable from 

 leucine) and agmatine (derivable from arginine). 



Ergot also contains ergothioneine a base containing sulphur and 

 of doubtful activity ; fixed oil (about 30 per cent.) ; scleroxanthin 

 and sclerocrystallin (crystalline yellow substances) ; sclererythrin 

 (reddish violet colouring matter) ; ergotinic acid, an ill-defined 

 organic acid which has no action on the uterus ; sphacelinic acid, 

 a resinous acid which contracts the blood vessels and also produces 

 convulsions ; a glucoside, clavicepsin. 



Cornutine (Keller), secalintoxin and sphacelotoxin (Jacobj) are 

 mixtures of ergotoxine with ergotinine. Chrysotoxin and ergochrysin 

 (Jacobj) are also impure substances. Ergotinine (Tanret), sclero- 

 crystallin (Podwissotzky) , secalin (Jacobj), and picrosclerotin (Dragen- 

 dorff) are impure ergotinine. 



Varieties. The two chief commercial varieties are Spanish and 

 Russian, the former being distinguished by its larger size. 



Ergot is also collected in Germany, Austria, in the Canary Islands 

 (occasionally), and in this country (rarely). 



Ergots will grow on many Graminaceous plants, e.g. Triticum 

 sativum, Lamark, Festuca elatior, Linne, F. arundinacea, Vill. Prosp., 

 Lolium perenne, Linne, L. multiflorum, Lamark, Poa annua, Linne. 

 Ergots grown on Festuca and on Lolium appear to be specially active. 



Assay. As there is no known method of determining ergotoxine no chemical 

 assay is at present available. It is, however, possible to obtain an in- 

 sight into the relative activity of preparations of ergot by injecting them 

 into fowls and observing the extent of gangrene produced in the combs and 

 wattles. The determination of the inactive ergotinine which is frequently 

 Carried out is, of course, valueless. 



