Ergot alkaloids Ergometrine

Oxytocin has been supplanted by the ergot alkaloid, ergometrine, as prime treatment of post-peirtum haemorrhage. 

For treatment of menorrhagia and metorrhagia the ergot alkaloids (ergometrine and ergotamine) are used (G02A B). 

Floss, H.G., Basmadjian, G.P., Groger, D. and Erge, D. (1971c) Biosynthesis of ergot alkaloids. Ergometrine. Lloydia, 34, 449-450. 

Of the typical ergot alkaloids, six pairs f table, p. 526) are now known. The first five pairs are more complex in structure than the sixth pair, ergometrine and eigometrinine. 

The a for ergot alkaloids is L-tryptophan and the j8 is four-steps alkaloid reaction chain. The

lysergic acid (Figure 71). Ergotamine and ergometrine are the best-known members of this group. 

Ergometrine is also an ergot alkaloid. It can be found in several products on the market, including Ergometron and Syntometrine. 

Ergot alkaloids contain lysergic acid (see ergotamine formula in A). They act on uterine and vascular muscle. Ergometrine particularly stimulates the uterus. It readily induces a tonic contraction of the myometrium (tetanus uteri). This jeopardizes placental blood flow and fetal oxygen supply. Ergometrine is not used therapeutically. The semisynthetic derivative methylergometrine is used only after delivery for uterine contractions that are too weak. 

As the resolution of the racemic lysergic acid into its optical antipodes and the synthesis of ergometrine had been described earlier by Stoll and Hofmann (25, 66), this meant that not only had the synthesis of d-lysergic acid been achieved but also the first total synthesis of an ergot alkaloid. 

In 1935 ergometrine was discovered in four different laboratories almost simultaneously and described under four different names (74, 75, 76, 77). Although the names ergometrine and ergobasine have remained in use in Europe, ergonovine was adopted in the USA as the official nomenclature for the specific uterotonic ergot alkaloid. 

Ergot alkaloids and related drugs dihydroergot-amine, ergometrine, ergotamine, lysergide, methy-sergide. 

Van Dongen PWJ, DeGroot ANJA History of ergot alkaloids from ergotism to ergometrine. Eur J Obstet Gynec Reprod Biol 1995 60 109-116. 

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