Ergotic VOLUMES

The chemistry of the ergot alkaloids was last reviewed in Volume VIII of this treatise (I). A remarkable monograph appeared in 1964 covering in brief all the achievements in ergot chemistry to that time (2). 

The extraction of the ergot with the liquid ammonia requires no special apparatus. It may be carried out in any ordinary open-top percolator or other receptacle, but desirably one of the usual type of percolator which is provided with a valved opening at the bottom for drawing off the extract. The evaporation of some of the ammonia keeps the remainder of the ammonia sufficiently cold to remain liquid, so that no increase in pressure beyond atmospheric pressure is needed to maintain such liquidity. The walls of the percolator or other container are conveniently heat-insulated, in any usual manner, to minimize absorption of heat from, the surrounding atmosphere and thus to minimize the loss in volume of liquid ammonia by reason of evaporation. The apparatus is desirably located under a hood, to dispose of that portion of the ammonia which evaporates. 

Kg. of ground ergot of rye is extracted in the usual manner with trichloroethylene. 50 litres of the extract is passed through two 75 g. columns of active alumina over a period of 2 hours. The active alumina is contained in two glass columns with a diameter of 10 cm. and a length of 50 cm. The alkaloids are eluted with 2 litres of ethyl acetate and the eluate is concentrated to a volume of about 150 cc. The... 

Ergot, edited by Vladimir Kren and Ladislav Cvak Volume 7... 

Tyramine (p-hydroxyphenethylamine) was isolated in 1909 by Barger and Dale (176) from Claviceps purpurea (ergot) and also by Henze (184) from the salivary gland of cephalopods. It provokes a salivary secretion, a contraction of the piloerectors, a mydriasis, and a slowing of the pulse rate in the dog (185). In the cat (0.06 g. subcutaneously) there can be noted, in addition, a motor stimulation, a respiratory excitation, and a hyperthermia (186), and in rats there is an increase in the respiratory volume (0.01-0.1 g. subcutaneously (187)). Bry (173) confirms the respiratory stimulation which tyramine provokes. 

To begin the sterile culture portion of ergot farming, a series of 2000 ml conical flasks are filled about one inch deep with nutrient broth made by diluting malt extract with 5 volumes of water. Malt extract is found at stores and outlets catering to the home brewer. It comes in cans, and is a very thick liquid. Avoid the crystalline version of malt extract. The tops of the conical flasks are loosely plugged with cotton, and then sterilized in a pressure cooker at 15 lbs. pressure for a little over Vi hour. 

Another possible new route used by this acid chef can be found in Chem Abstracts Volume 69, entry 106934 (1968) and Czech Patent 125,498. The Czechs have done a lot of work in the field of lysergic chemistry, and it is quite understandable because at one time they produced a lot of ergot. 

The first chapter, by Barbosa-Filho, da-Cunha, and Gray, describes in great detail the tremendous volume of research that has been conducted in recent years on the alkaloids of the Menispermaceae, a family which produces a wide structural range of benzylisoquinoline alkaloids. The second chapter is a very special collaborative effort by three Japanese chemistry groups led by Somei, Murakami, and Ninomiya discussing the recent developments on the synthesis of the ergot alkaloids. Finally, Skaltsounis, Mitaku, and Tillequin discuss the diverse acridone alkaloids from the perspectives of their isolation, distribution, synthesis, and biological properties. 

---