Ergot Alkaloids

Ergot alkaloids are a large group of compounds produced by certain fungi belonging to the genus Claviceps and its relatives (e.g. the Neotyphodium endophyte fungi in grasses). Strains of C. purpurea, C. paspali and C. fusiformis.³ True ergots are sclerotia, or compact masses of hardened fungal mycelium containing nutrients reserves.^{1, 2} The role of sclerotia is to protect the fungus allowing it to survive adverse environmental conditions. Sclerotia appear like fruit bodies and replace the seed of some cereals and some grasses.³ The fungal spores are carried by the wind and upon germination on cereal or grass heads, form hyphae, which can penetrate and destroy the seeds, replacing them with a sclerotium.^{3, 4, 5} The sclerotia will subsequently produce conidiospores and sugar containing secretions to attract insects and favor further dispersion of spores to new hosts. In autumn, the sclerotia fall into the ground and overwinter until the following spring.³ Usually infection is favored by a cold winter followed by a wet spring. The fungus uses the nutrients from the plant for the development of the sclerotia and the production of the ergot alkaloids.^{3, 4} Ergots are present in the field and if the sclerotia are not eliminated during harvest, they can end up in food and feed.³

Ergot alkaloids are amides of the terpenoid indole derivate D-lysergic acid.⁵ All ergot alkaloid structures contain the tetracyclic ergoline ring and can be divided in different classes according to the substituents attached on the ergoline scaffold.⁵ The major classes are clavines (lysergic acids derivatives) and ergopeptides.^{4, 5}