Ergot Alkaloids

Ergot alkaloids are produced by Claviceps Purpurea.


Pharmacokinetics of Ergot Alkaloids:
It is effective in 50% of patients. The oral dose is about 10 times larger than IM dose although gastrointestinal absorption can be increased by caffeine.

Action of Ergot alkaloids:
As described of ergotism, some of the naturally occurring alkaloids are powerful hallucinogens. They constrict most human blood vessels which may be due to partial agonist effects at α-adrenoceptors. In very low doses, ergot preparations can evoke rhythmic contraction and relaxation of the uterus.

Clinical uses of ergot alkaloids:
1. Migraine.
2. Hyperprolactinemia.

Increased serum level of prolactin (Anterior pituitary hormone).

3. Postpartum Haemorrhage.
Oxytocin is usually used to control postpartum haemorrhage but if this is insufficient than ergonovine maleate can be used.

4. Senile Cerebral Insufficiency.
Once the headache starts, Analgesics or NSAIDs can be helpful in reducing the pain such as aspirin, naproxen, propoxyphene and caffeine.

Dihydroergotamine

Derivative of ergotamine, IV use, ≈ sumatriptan, nausea may occur.

Some viva questions from Pharmacognosy

Q: What do you know about ergot alkaloids?
Ans: These include alkaloids which we get from the ergot fungus Claviceps purpurea or derived semisynthetically.

Q: Give examples of ergot alkaloids?
Ans: Ergotamine, dihydroergotamine, ergonovine, methysergide, lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD).

Q: What do know about Glycoside?
Ans: It represents a derivative of sugar that decomposes into a sugar and non-sugar component. It is obtained by extraction of crude drug with alcohol. For example digitalis glycosides.

Q: What do you mean by essential oils?
Ans: These are the products obtained from plant having volatile nature. They represent the taste and odour of that particular plant from which these are obtained such as camphor, menthane and terpenes.

Q: What do you mean by antibiotic?
Ans: It represents a soluble substance which is obtained from bacterium or mold (fungus) having the ability of stopping the growth of micro-organisms. They are inactive against viruses.

Q: What do you know about vaccine?
Ans: Vaccine represents a product, having dead or weakened micro-organism of kind causing a specific disease, used to stimulate the immune system for the production of antibodies in competition with that specific disease.
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Further Reading: