Pros & cons of ergot fungus, a floral parasite
EmPower Research
June 16, 2008
By Shilpa C Nangali
On February 13, 2008, I read in an online outlet that a teen collapsed after ingesting seeds of morning glory plant. I looked for details and came to know that the seeds of many species of ´morning glory plant´ contain ergot alkaloids, which can create an effect similar to LSD (lysergic acid diethylamide) when taken in specific quantity. The seeds can be dangerous, especially for those with certain types of cardiovascular conditions, pregnant women and the elderly. This information sparked off a curiosity to know more about ergot fungus. Fungi are single-cell forms of life that have been on our mother earth for billions of years. Fungi can be found throughout our environment. Some of these fungi are beneficial while others can be harmful.
Both plants and animals are harmed by fungal diseases. Fungi can actively grow by invading the body of their hosts. However, there is another way by which fungi can cause harm without invading our bodies. When fungi grow on a living organism or on stored food material that we consume, they may produce harmful metabolites, which can diffuse into the food. It is believed that fungi produce these metabolites as a way of protecting their food supply from other organisms. These metabolites are known as ´mycotoxins´. In Greek ´mykes´ or ´mukos´ means fungus; so, ´mycotoxins´ means ´fungus poisons´ while mycotoxicoses refers to the effects of poisoning by mycotoxin.
Fungi proliferate into colonies and mycotoxin levels become high in favorable conditions. These mycotoxins vary greatly in their severity. A few fungi produce severe toxins only at specific levels of moisture, temperature or oxygen in the air. A few toxins are deadly, some cause identifiable diseases or health problems; some weaken the immune system without producing symptoms specific to that toxin, some act as allergens or irritants, while some have no known effect on us.
I would like to write in brief about one of the mycotoxin producers i.e., the ergot fungus (Claviceps purpurea), which is famous as ´floral parasite´. Ergot is the common name of a fungus in the genus Claviceps that is parasitic on certain grains and grasses. The fungus forms a sclerotium in winter, and this small structure is usually known as 'ergot'. Ergot fungus produces alkaloids, derivatives of lysergic acid (ergotamine, ergotoxin), which are of considerable importance in the treatment of cardiovascular conditions, migraine & as hallucinogens (inducers of hallucinations). For the most part, ergot is still produced by the artificial inoculation of rye plants with C. purpurea, submerged culture of other strains, including C.paspali due to the economic importance of this fungus.
The analgesics are used in treating several painful conditions. Most are available without a prescription from high street chemists to treat migraine. They are used by a remarkably large number of people who manage their attacks by self-medication. The analgesics like paracetamol, codeine, aspirin, ibuprofen, diclofenac, naproxen and tolfenamic acid provide some relief for migraine patients, especially when combined with anti-sickness medicines or other products such as caffeine, ergot alkaloids or anti-nausea medicines. The prescription migraine treatments contain a drug called ergotamine tartrate and ergotamine is basically derived from ergot fungus. However, according to a report in the Journal Neurology, the overuse of ergotamine increases the risk of cardiovascular complications, such as heart attack and stroke, among migraine patients who are taking drugs for cardiovascular disease. Ergot derivatives are sometimes used in the prevention of menstrual migraine, but should not be prescribed to pregnant patients. I have read about a study, which revealed that the drugs used to treat migraine attacks including ergot alkaloids may alter the body's secretion of hormones such as growth hormone and the stress hormone cortisol.
According to SurfWax News Index, the Swiss chemist Albert Hofmann invented LSD (lysergic acid diethylamide) as the 25th variation of a compound derived from ergot fungus n the Sandoz (now Novartis) laboratories in Basel. The drug was the 25th he created from the basic chemical ingredients of ergot fungus, in his search for treatments for circulation and respiratory problems. LSD is one of the major drugs making up the hallucinogen class of drugs. LSD is hallucinogenic and triggers misrepresentations in perception of reality and has an effect on serotonin, the neurotransmitter involved in mood, hunger, sexual behavior, and muscle control. According to Scientific American, Hofmann also manufactured a wide range of medical drugs from ergot fungus, including methergine (which is still used to halt bleeding after birth) and hydergine (which improves circulation).
It is considered that ergot drugs such as Cafergot could relieve cluster headaches, which are known by the nickname "suicide headaches"! Cluster headache is a neurological disease in which headaches occur periodically, with active periods interrupted by spontaneous remissions.
In the year 2007, a British study involving over 11,000 Parkinson's disease patients concluded that two ergot-derived drugs, Pergolide and Cabergoline, commonly used to treat Parkinson's disease may increase the risk of leaky heart valves by up to 700 percent. As there are both pros and cons to the derivates from ergot fungus, it is up to us how well we utilize the benefits of this fungus. However, I feel a lot of research is still needed to completely explore the benefits of ergot derivatives!
Credits:
Book:
General Microbiology (7th Edition), Page num- 893
Hans G. Schlegel
Translated by M. Kogut
Cambridge Low Price Edition
Online outlets:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mycotoxin
http://www.botany.hawaii.edu/faculty/wong/BOT135/lect11.htm
http://thehealthadvantage.com/grainsandmycotoxins.html
http://news.surfwax.com
On February 13, 2008, I read in an online outlet that a teen collapsed after ingesting seeds of morning glory plant. I looked for details and came to know that the seeds of many species of ´morning glory plant´ contain ergot alkaloids, which can create an effect similar to LSD (lysergic acid diethylamide) when taken in specific quantity. The seeds can be dangerous, especially for those with certain types of cardiovascular conditions, pregnant women and the elderly. This information sparked off a curiosity to know more about ergot fungus. Fungi are single-cell forms of life that have been on our mother earth for billions of years. Fungi can be found throughout our environment. Some of these fungi are beneficial while others can be harmful.
Both plants and animals are harmed by fungal diseases. Fungi can actively grow by invading the body of their hosts. However, there is another way by which fungi can cause harm without invading our bodies. When fungi grow on a living organism or on stored food material that we consume, they may produce harmful metabolites, which can diffuse into the food. It is believed that fungi produce these metabolites as a way of protecting their food supply from other organisms. These metabolites are known as ´mycotoxins´. In Greek ´mykes´ or ´mukos´ means fungus; so, ´mycotoxins´ means ´fungus poisons´ while mycotoxicoses refers to the effects of poisoning by mycotoxin.
Fungi proliferate into colonies and mycotoxin levels become high in favorable conditions. These mycotoxins vary greatly in their severity. A few fungi produce severe toxins only at specific levels of moisture, temperature or oxygen in the air. A few toxins are deadly, some cause identifiable diseases or health problems; some weaken the immune system without producing symptoms specific to that toxin, some act as allergens or irritants, while some have no known effect on us.
I would like to write in brief about one of the mycotoxin producers i.e., the ergot fungus (Claviceps purpurea), which is famous as ´floral parasite´. Ergot is the common name of a fungus in the genus Claviceps that is parasitic on certain grains and grasses. The fungus forms a sclerotium in winter, and this small structure is usually known as 'ergot'. Ergot fungus produces alkaloids, derivatives of lysergic acid (ergotamine, ergotoxin), which are of considerable importance in the treatment of cardiovascular conditions, migraine & as hallucinogens (inducers of hallucinations). For the most part, ergot is still produced by the artificial inoculation of rye plants with C. purpurea, submerged culture of other strains, including C.paspali due to the economic importance of this fungus.
The analgesics are used in treating several painful conditions. Most are available without a prescription from high street chemists to treat migraine. They are used by a remarkably large number of people who manage their attacks by self-medication. The analgesics like paracetamol, codeine, aspirin, ibuprofen, diclofenac, naproxen and tolfenamic acid provide some relief for migraine patients, especially when combined with anti-sickness medicines or other products such as caffeine, ergot alkaloids or anti-nausea medicines. The prescription migraine treatments contain a drug called ergotamine tartrate and ergotamine is basically derived from ergot fungus. However, according to a report in the Journal Neurology, the overuse of ergotamine increases the risk of cardiovascular complications, such as heart attack and stroke, among migraine patients who are taking drugs for cardiovascular disease. Ergot derivatives are sometimes used in the prevention of menstrual migraine, but should not be prescribed to pregnant patients. I have read about a study, which revealed that the drugs used to treat migraine attacks including ergot alkaloids may alter the body's secretion of hormones such as growth hormone and the stress hormone cortisol.
According to SurfWax News Index, the Swiss chemist Albert Hofmann invented LSD (lysergic acid diethylamide) as the 25th variation of a compound derived from ergot fungus n the Sandoz (now Novartis) laboratories in Basel. The drug was the 25th he created from the basic chemical ingredients of ergot fungus, in his search for treatments for circulation and respiratory problems. LSD is one of the major drugs making up the hallucinogen class of drugs. LSD is hallucinogenic and triggers misrepresentations in perception of reality and has an effect on serotonin, the neurotransmitter involved in mood, hunger, sexual behavior, and muscle control. According to Scientific American, Hofmann also manufactured a wide range of medical drugs from ergot fungus, including methergine (which is still used to halt bleeding after birth) and hydergine (which improves circulation).
It is considered that ergot drugs such as Cafergot could relieve cluster headaches, which are known by the nickname "suicide headaches"! Cluster headache is a neurological disease in which headaches occur periodically, with active periods interrupted by spontaneous remissions.
In the year 2007, a British study involving over 11,000 Parkinson's disease patients concluded that two ergot-derived drugs, Pergolide and Cabergoline, commonly used to treat Parkinson's disease may increase the risk of leaky heart valves by up to 700 percent. As there are both pros and cons to the derivates from ergot fungus, it is up to us how well we utilize the benefits of this fungus. However, I feel a lot of research is still needed to completely explore the benefits of ergot derivatives!
Credits:
Book:
General Microbiology (7th Edition), Page num- 893
Hans G. Schlegel
Translated by M. Kogut
Cambridge Low Price Edition
Online outlets:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mycotoxin
http://www.botany.hawaii.edu/faculty/wong/BOT135/lect11.htm
http://thehealthadvantage.com/grainsandmycotoxins.html
http://news.surfwax.com
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