‫‪Herb 2‬‬

‫الرجاء اغالق المحمول‬

ERGOT ‫االرجوت‬
Origin: It’s the dried sclerotium or resting stage of the
fungus, Claviceps purpurea, Family Claviciptiaceae
developed on the ovary of the rye plant, Secale cereale,
Family Graminae.

G. sources:
Spain, Portugal, Poland, Russia and
Hungary.
Life cycle (History):

1- Ergot has two distinct periods in its life

cycle, an active and a resting stage.

2- During the resting stage it forms compact

mycelium or scleroteum.

3- The scleroteum germinate in spring giving

stromata that swells into spherical head
containing flask-shaped cavities (perithecia)
containing ascospores
˃ 4- The ascospores carried by the wind to the
ovaries of the rye flowers, where the hyphae
penetrate the ovary wall and grow until it
becomes enlarged, hardened to form the
“sclerotium”. At this stage, alkaloids and lipids
accumulate in the sclerotium
Active constituents:
1- Six isomeric pairs of alkaloids
(derivatives of lysergic or isolysergic
acids):

A- Water soluble: ergometrine &

ergometrinine.

B- Water insoluble: ergotamine &

ergotaminine and ergosine & ergosinine
as well as ergotoxine group.
 1- It contains number of bases and amino
acids as tyramine, histamine, and
acetylcholine.

2- A red colouring matter “scleroerythrin”

and a yellow one “secalonic acid”.

3- Fixed oil or fat and ergosterol.

(Van Urk test for ergotoxine group):
Moist powdered Ergot with Na2CO3
solution, extract with chloroform, add
p-dimethylaminobenzaldehyde (in
H2SO4 containing 1-5 ml of FeCl3).

The acidic layer develops a deep blue

colour within 3 minutes.
Uses:
1- Ergometrine is used in labour to assist
delivery. It has a direct stimulant action on the
uterine muscle (an oxytocin-like effect).
2- It reduces post-partum haemorrhage.

3- Ergotamine is effective in migrain (in

combination with caffeine).
4- Lysergic acid is used in preparation of L.S.D
(lysergic acid diethylamide) which has a
hallucinogenic effect.
Origin: The unicellular fungus Saccharomyces siccum,
Family Saccharomycetaceae.
Active constituents:
1- About 13% proteins, 0.27% oil.
2-Enzymes as zymase, invertase, maltase.
3- Glycogen, fat, ergosterol
and zymosterol.
4- It’s an important and
cheap source of vitamin B.
Origin: It’s the mould fungi of
Penicillium notatum and P.
chrysogenum, Family Aspergillaceae.
Active constituents:
An antibiotic principle named penicillin,
it’s unstable acid, sodium and calcium
salts of penicillin are prepared and used
for i.m. administration.

Uses:
Penicillins are active against many
pathogenic gram-positive bacteria, also
used in controlling infections caused by
some gram-negative bacteria
» The fungus Acremonium chrysogenum
produces a group of the antibiotics
called (cephalosprin). It has no
allergic reactions like penicillin and
chemical modification of the natural
compound result in a spectrum of new
antibiotics.
» The fungus Penicillium griseofulvin
produces the antibiotic griseofulvin
which is useful against fungal
infections infecting skin, hair, toes
and nails.
» The fungus Fusidium coccidium
produces the antibiotic fusidic acid
which is a steroid like and is most
effective to control penicillin resistant
strains of Staphylococcus aureus.
 * They are secondary metabolites produced by
certain fungi.

* Aflatoxins are the most important mycotoxins,

because they are:
1- Carcinogenic.
2- Mutagens, causing chromosomal aberrations.
3- Teratogens causing malformation in
embryos.
4- They cause hemorrhage, necrosis of the liver
as well as kidney lesions.
» Food stuffs affected by fungi
are ground nuts, rice, maize,
wheat, cocconut, seeds, milk
and cheese (due to bad storage
conditions).
 * Some Amanita species are
edible as A. rubescence.

* Others are poisonous such as:

A. phalloides known as death cap,

A. muscara known as fly Agaric

because its extract is used for
destruction of flies, also A.
pantherina used for this purpose
all belong to family Amantaceae.
 They contain cyclopeptides,
amatoxins and phallotoxins
which are toxic agents.

Other species cause hallucination

and psychic symptoms.
» Origin: It’s the lichen of Cetraria islandica,
Family Parmeliaceae.

» G. sources:
Grows on the mountains of central Europe.
Active constituents:
» 1- mucilage.
» 2- Bitter substances, lichen acids.
» 3- It contains about 70% of Two complex
carbohydrate substances lichenin and
isolichenin .
Uses:
1- Iceland moss is used as a bitter
stomachic and tonic.
2- It yields a demulcent and nutrient
jelly.
3- It’s used to mask the taste of nauseous
medicins.