Ergot - what is it?

The poisonous fungus of ergot contains dangerous alkaloids, is an agricultural problem and at the same time is artificially grown for pharmaceutical purposes. Its rapid spread to cereals in the Middle Ages led to epidemics as a result of eating bread from infected flour.

Much in nature is arranged in an amazing way, and what can kill, at the same time is able to heal.

What is an ergot?

Argonace is a genus of fungi from the family of the same name. All of them parasitize on cereals, including rye and wheat. You can find another version of the name of the fungus - uterine horns. The name "ergot" comes from the Old Russian word and means "abundance, excess". Such a paradoxical meaning, in the opinion of the linguist O. N. Trubachev, in those days was euphemistic in nature.

Sclerotia of the fungus are elongated-elongate, rarely trihedral, hard formations of curved shape with cracks and longitudinal wrinkles. The surface is black-violet, sometimes with a white touch, which is easily erased, on the fracture color is white or with a yellow tinge. The length of sclerotia depends on the type of cereal on which ergot develops (photo above). For example, in rye it is 1-3 cm, and diameter up to 6 mm.

Ergot in the Middle Ages

The poisoning of animals and humans with alkaloids of ergot has its name - ergotism. The phenomenon, by the way, is scientifically proven and in the Middle Ages was of a massive nature. At that time, undemanding to the soil and resistant to pests rye was grown everywhere, and bread was the staple food. Infected grain turned into flour and thus fell on the table. Ergotism caused large-scale epidemics, and even there was a special order of antonies, which dealt with the treatment of infected people.

Professor Shane Rogers of the University of Clarkson, along with his graduate students, investigated the problem of ghosts and came to the conclusion that in many homes where strange sounds or visions were observed, some dangerous molds that could affect the residents thrive. This theory confirms the conjectures about the influence of ergot on events in medieval Europe, including witch hunts, crusades. In the photo above - the canvas of the Flemish artist, depicting the consequences of the epidemic of ergotism.

Ergot is a parasitic fungus with alkaloids, which, according to some data, cause not only poisoning, but also hallucinations, seizures, itching. Stories of these symptoms are known as "witchy cramps" and "Antony fire". Alkaloids do not break down even after heat treatment (bread baking). Such behavior of patients against the background of religious fanaticism led to tragic consequences.

Cycle of fungus development

Mycelial fungus has a reddish tint, its formation occurs in the spring, it has the appearance of legs with heads, on top of which are bottle-shaped fruit bodies (perithets), clearly visible in the photo below. In the latter, the sexual process takes place, which is a fusion of gametanglys, as a result of which a zygote is formed. It immediately enters into the division (meiosis) inside the bag (aska), formed from the mycelium of the fungus.

After that, in summer, the seeds of ergot (spores) are carried by wind or insects many kilometers around. Getting into the pestle of a flowering cereal plant, they germinate, and in the end not a grain but a mycelium of the fungus is formed. It gives off a special juice that attracts insects (honey dew). In this way the fungus spreads further through spores. After the ovary is exhausted, in its place is formed the so-called sclerotia - a horn formed by fungal hyphae fungus. When the cereal ripens, it falls to the ground and hibernates in the soil, and in the spring the process repeats itself.

Mushroom in agriculture

Special cultivation of ergot is important to compare with the harm from it on agricultural fields. According to international standards, the content of spores of poisonous fungus in the grain should not exceed 0.05%. However, some countries are demanding an absolute lack of dispute in raw materials, in particular Egypt. The ergot spreads quickly enough and in any quantity is always present in the fields. According to experts, to bring its content in the finished grain to a zero mark is extremely difficult, but theoretically possible.

The most common ergot of wheat, rye and barley. The main measure of combating the fungus is thorough cleaning of the whole seed from the horns, as well as autumn (autumn) soil cultivation after harvesting. Sclerotia dies when he smells. As a precautionary measure, it is recommended to choose for cultivation a variety with short and simultaneous flowering periods and observe the rules of crop rotation.

Factors contributing to the spread of ergot are cereal weeds and field precursors, an abundance of precipitation combined with the wind during the flowering of cereals, cold and cloudy weather, which leads to stretching of the flowering period.

Dissemination and cultivation

It should be noted that ergot is a mushroom, spread everywhere, where there is cereal cereals. The most favorable climatic factor for it is high humidity (from 70%).

As already mentioned above, for pharmaceutical purposes, the fungus, namely purée ergot, is grown specially. For this, there are state farms of medicinal plants, in particular in the Novosibirsk and Kirov regions of Russia, in Belarus. Rye ears are specially infested with mushroom spores by hand or by injection machines. The yield in this case reaches 4 quintals per hectare.

Collection of raw materials is carried out during the ripening period, when the horns are painted in a purplish-brown color, harden and easily separate from the ear. The collected material is dried in well-ventilated shops when darkening. Requirements for ready-made raw materials: moisture content is not more than 11% and impurities in the amount of less than 1.5-2%.

Alkaloids of ergot

In medicine, horns (sclerotia) of ergot are used. They contain six stereoisomeric pairs of alkaloids. To each active levorotatory corresponds the least weak dextrorotatory isomer. In particular, ergotamine and ergotaminin, ergocristines and ergocristines, ergosin and ergosimine, ergocryptin and ergocryptinin, etc. The main constituent of all levorotatory alkaloids is lysergic acid. The composition and content of alkaloids depend on the biological race of the fungus, external factors and the host plant.

Obtaining LSD

The Swiss chemist Albert Hoffmann (pictured above) in 1938 from the derivatives of lysergic acid contained in ergot, chemically produced the drug - the infamous LSD. After 5 years, the same person discovered the hallucinogenic properties of the compound. Currently, LSD in most countries of the world is prohibited by the UN Convention, as is the process of its study. Switzerland is an exception: since 2008 it has been allowed to conduct therapy on its territory for mortally ill patients, including at critical stages of cancer.

Use in medicine

The use of alkaloids in medicine is known for a long time. Ergot is a fungus that is actively used in obstetric and gynecological practice. Drugs on its basis cause a prolonged and severe contraction of the uterine musculature, and also stop uterine bleeding. This action is due to the presence of levorotatory physiologically active alkaloids, especially ergometrine. It is less toxic than others, the duration of the action is not so high, but the effect is faster.

Hydrogenated ergot alkaloids have pronounced sedative properties. In this regard, they are valued in the treatment of hypertension, migraine, Basedova disease, mental disorders.

Poisoning of ergot occurs not only among humans, but also in animals. Since the cereals for them are also food, it is important to monitor the cleanliness of feed grain for poultry and livestock. The main sign of poisoning is the necrosis of the tail, ears, limbs.

That's it, ergot. This culture is able to provide a truly global impact on the world around us. Whether a small fungus will cause epidemics or become an effective medicine depends on the correctness of the person's approach to nature.