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Ergot: Difference between revisions
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'''Ergot''' or '''ergot fungi''' refers to a group of fungi of the genus '''''Claviceps'''''. | '''Ergot''' or '''ergot fungi''' refers to a group of fungi of the genus '''''Claviceps'''''. | ||
The most prominent member of this group is ''Claviceps purpurea'' ("rye ergot fungus"). This fungus grows on rye and related plants, and produces alkaloids that can cause ergotism in humans and other mammals who consume grains contaminated with its fruiting structure (called ergot sclerotium).<ref>[http://www.mercksource.com/pp/us/cns/cns_hl_dorlands_split.jsp?pg=/ppdocs/us/common/dorlands/dorland/three/000036589.htm ergot] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090910032206/http://www.mercksource.com/pp/us/cns/cns_hl_dorlands_split.jsp?pg=%2Fppdocs%2Fus%2Fcommon%2Fdorlands%2Fdorland%2Fthree%2F000036589.htm |date=September 10, 2009}}, Dorland's Medical Dictionary</ref> | The most prominent member of this group is ''Claviceps purpurea'' ("rye ergot fungus"). This fungus grows on rye and related plants, and produces [[Alkaloid|alkaloids]] that can cause ergotism in humans and other mammals who consume grains contaminated with its fruiting structure (called ergot sclerotium).<ref>[http://www.mercksource.com/pp/us/cns/cns_hl_dorlands_split.jsp?pg=/ppdocs/us/common/dorlands/dorland/three/000036589.htm ergot] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090910032206/http://www.mercksource.com/pp/us/cns/cns_hl_dorlands_split.jsp?pg=%2Fppdocs%2Fus%2Fcommon%2Fdorlands%2Fdorland%2Fthree%2F000036589.htm |date=September 10, 2009}}, Dorland's Medical Dictionary</ref> | ||
Ergot is the main source of [[ergotamine]] and is an ingredient in many [[lysergamides]]. | Ergot is the main source of [[ergotamine]] and is an ingredient in many [[lysergamides]]. | ||
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Human poisoning due to the consumption of rye bread made from ergot-infected grain was common in Europe in the Middle Ages. The first mention of a plague of gangrenous ergotism in Europe comes from Germany in 857, following this France and Scandinavia experienced similar outbreaks;<ref name="De Costa">{{cite journal |last1=De Costa |first1=Caroline |title=StAnthony's fire and living ligatures: a short history of ergometrine |journal=The Lancet |date=May 18, 2002 |volume=359 |issue=9319 |pages=1768–1770 |doi=10.1016/S0140-6736(02)08658-0 |pmid=12049883}}</ref> England is noticeably absent from the historical regions affected by ergotism as their main source of food was wheat, which is resistant to ergot fungi.<ref name="Wellcome">{{cite book |last1=Wellcome |first1=Henry S. |last2=Solomon |first2=Henry |title=From Ergot to Ernutin |date=June 19, 1908 |publisher=Canadian Medical Association |location=Ottawa |isbn=978-1331946151 |pages=1–60}}</ref> | Human poisoning due to the consumption of rye bread made from ergot-infected grain was common in Europe in the Middle Ages. The first mention of a plague of gangrenous ergotism in Europe comes from Germany in 857, following this France and Scandinavia experienced similar outbreaks;<ref name="De Costa">{{cite journal |last1=De Costa |first1=Caroline |title=StAnthony's fire and living ligatures: a short history of ergometrine |journal=The Lancet |date=May 18, 2002 |volume=359 |issue=9319 |pages=1768–1770 |doi=10.1016/S0140-6736(02)08658-0 |pmid=12049883}}</ref> England is noticeably absent from the historical regions affected by ergotism as their main source of food was wheat, which is resistant to ergot fungi.<ref name="Wellcome">{{cite book |last1=Wellcome |first1=Henry S. |last2=Solomon |first2=Henry |title=From Ergot to Ernutin |date=June 19, 1908 |publisher=Canadian Medical Association |location=Ottawa |isbn=978-1331946151 |pages=1–60}}</ref> | ||
In 944, a massive outbreak of ergotism caused 40,000 deaths in the regions of Aquitaine, Limousin, Perigord, and Angoumois in France.<ref name="Bennett Bentley 1999 Story Ergot" /> In Hesse in 1596, Wendelin Thelius was one of the first to attribute ergotism poisoning to grain.<ref name="De Costa" /> In 1778, S. Tessier, observing a huge epidemic in Sologne, France in which more than 8,000 people died, recommended drainage of fields, compulsory cleaning of grain, and the substitution of potatoes for affected grain.<ref name="De Costa" /> | In 944, a massive outbreak of ergotism caused 40,000 deaths in the regions of Aquitaine, Limousin, Perigord, and Angoumois in France.<ref name="Bennett Bentley 1999 Story Ergot" /> In Hesse in 1596, Wendelin Thelius was one of the first to attribute ergotism poisoning to grain.<ref name="De Costa" /> In 1778, S. Tessier, observing a huge epidemic in Sologne, France in which more than 8,000 people died, recommended drainage of fields, compulsory cleaning of grain, and the substitution of potatoes for affected grain.<ref name="De Costa" /> | ||
==Chemistry== | ==Chemistry== | ||