• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.23-27
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• 1973

Korean ergot sclerotia which were collected from Agropyron semicostatum $N_{EES}$, Miscanthus sinensis $A_NDERS$ var. purpurascens $R_{END}$, M. sacchariflorus $B_{ENTH}$. et HOOK,. M. sinensis $A_{NDERS}$., Eulalia speciosa $O.{\;}K_{UNTZ}$, Themeda triandra $F_{ORSK}$. var. japonica $M_{AKINO}$, and Phalaris arundinacea L. were investigated for their alkaloid constituents. Quantitative determinations of alkaloids were carried out using a modified procedure of van $U_{RK}$ and $M_{ICHELON}-K_{ELLEHER}$ methods. The results showed that the two ergots from Agropyron semicostatum and Phalaris arundinacea contained total alkaloids up to 0.137 per cent. The alkaloids of these two ergots are mostly water-insoluble alkaloids. The ergots parasitizing Reed Canary grass was found to contain both water-soluble and water-insoluble alkaloids. The TLC and PPC tests for the ergot alkaloids from Agropyron semicostatum and Phalaris arundinacea revealed that they contain at least two alkaloids, respectively, and that the ergot from Themeda triandra $F_{ORSK}$. var. japonica has one. The lipid contents of the seven ergots ranged from 13 to 29 per cent.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.9-13
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• 1975

To isolate ergot strains which are capable of growing and producing alkaloids in submerged culture, strains were isolated from the sclerotia parasitizing the Graminae plants in Korea and the experiments of submerged culture of these strains yielded the following results: 1) The mycelia which were respectively isolated from the sclerotia parasitizing Agropyron semicostatum $N_{EES}$, Arundinella hirta $T_{ANAKA}$ var. ciliata $K_{OIDSUMI}$, Ischaemum anthephoroides $M_{IQ}$. var. eriostachyum $H_{ONDA}$, and Phleum pretense L. grew in Medium D by submerged culture. 2) When the strain of the ergot of Agropyron semicostatum was inoculated into six different nutrient solutions for submerged culture, its mycelium grew well in Media C, D and F, but produced alkaloids only in Medium C, indicating that Medium C is relatively suitable for the strain. 3) The extraction of the alkaloids from the culture broth by ether and T.L.C. analysis of the extract showed that it contained at least two types of alkaloids.

• YAKHAK HOEJI
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• v.12 no.3_4
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• pp.85-88
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• 1968

To select sclerotia to be used for strain isolation, water-soluble and water-insoluble alkaloids contents of the sclerotia of ergot fungus were determined. The sclerotia parasitic on the genus Elymus were found to contain greater amount of the alkaloids, up to 1.44%, than the sclerotia from the genus Agropyron. The major portion of the total alkaloid contents was the water-insoluble alkaloids. No correlation was found between the alkaloid contents and the lipid contents of the sclerotia analyzed.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.1-7
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• 1973

Recent findings that agroclavine strongly inhibits: lactation and that ergocornine and ergonovine induce regression or inhibition of pituitary tumor growth in rats revealed new pharmacological activities in addition to the well-known activities of ergot alkaloids. Clavicipitic acid, isochanoclavine (I) and chanoclavine (II) are newly isolated alkaloids. It was already established that tryptophan, mevalonic acid and methionine are biosynthetic precursors of ergoline, a basic structure of the alkaloids, which is formed via $4-({\gamma},{\gamma}-dimethylallyl)-tryptophan$, mediated by dimethylallylpyrophosphate: tryptophan dimethylallyl transferase. Chanoclavine-I appears to be an intermediate to agroclavine which is converted to elymoclavine. Agroclavine and elymoclavine were also found to be hydroxylated by peroxidase to setoclavine and penniclavine, respectively. Elymoclavine is converted to ergotamine and lysergic acid ${\alpha}-hydroxyethylamide$, respectively. Pyruvate and alanine were found to be incorporated into the two-carbon unit of the ${\alpha}-hydroxyethyl$ moiety of the latter. Lysergylalanine is converted to ergometrine, but not to lysergic acid ${\alpha}-hydroxyethylamide$.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.158-169
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• 2019

Ergot alkaloids are mycotoxin produced by fungi of the Claviceps genus, mainly by Claviceps purpurea in EU. Recently obtained informations indicates necessity for control the ergot in imported grains. Recent occurrence data of ergot alkaloids from EU countries indicate the necessities of management and control these toxins from the imported grains like rye, wheat, oat etc. The aim of this study is to optimize the liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry method for determination of ergot alkaloids (ergometrine, ergosine, ergotamine, ergocornine, ergocryptine, ergocristine and their epimers (-inines) from grain and grain-based food. The test method was optimized by extracting the sample with acetonitrile containing 2 mM ammonium carbonate, purification with Mycosep cartridge, and instrumental analysis by LC-MS/MS using Syncronis C18 column. The standard calibration curves showed linearity with correlation coefficents; $R^2$ >0.99. Mean recoveries ranged from 72.0 to 111.3% at three different fortified levels (20, 50, and $100{\mu}g/kg$). The correlation coefficient expressed as precision was within the range of 1.9-12.9%. The limit or quantifications (LOQ) ranged from 0.012 to $0.058{\mu}g/kg$. The developed analytical method met the criteria of AOAC Int. and CAC validation parameters like accuracy and sensitivity. As a result, it was confirmed that the test method developed in this study is suitable for the simultaneous analysis of six species of ergot alkaloid from grains and grain products.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.159-166
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• 1990

The ability of many toxigenic fungi to invade and develop in a wide variety of raw ingredients of human diet renders human exposure to mycotoxing very difficult to avoid. Most of the energy-rich commodities, such as cereal grains, oil seeds, tree nuts, and dehydrated fruits, are susceptible to mycotoxin contamination. Mycotoxins therefare have been recognized as an important class of hazardous substances in the human food chain. Although human exposure to mycotoxins is largely through ingestion, inhalation and skin contact may also be significant under conditions other than consumption of foods. Human ingestion of mycotoxins is due to consumption of contaminated dietary ingredients and the edible tissues and products of domestic animals that have been exposed to mycotoxins in moldy feed. Large scale acute human mycotoxicoses, such as ergotism in France, alimentary toxic aleukia in Russia, yellow rice syndrome in Japan, endemic nephropathy in Balkan countries, and acute aflatoxin poisonings in India and Taiwan, have been well documented, indicating that mycotoxicosis is a global problem. In some incidents, hundreds of victims were killed and many more became seriously ill. The mycotoxins that have been implicated in the etiology of these human diseases include aflatoxins, citreoviridin, cyclopiazonic acid, ergot alkaloids, moniliformin, ochratoxin A, trichothecenes, tenuazonic acid, and zearalenone. Among these, aflatoxins have been also implicated in the etiology of human primary liver cancer in those high-incidence countries in Africa and southeast Asia. It is well recognized that cause-effect relationship between mycotoxins and human diseases is very difficult to establish, especially for the cancer connection. Careful risk assessment must be performed to determine whether a mycotoxin indeed warrants costly regulatory actions.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Service
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.493-496
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• 2006

This study investigated cases of progressively necrotizing limbs in Korean indigenous calves. The recent case (Case 1) involved a 3-month old, male calf in Jeonbuk province that presented a visibly dry form of gangrene affecting joints of the forelimbs and the hind limbs. Radiograph revealed osteoarthritis possibly resulting from pressure of disrupted joint skin, fasciae, deeper underlying musculatures and tendon. Histopathology of affected tissue showed necrotizing; severely thrombosed dilated blood vessels with rechanneling microvasculatures. The lack of substantial infectious inflammatory exudates in the vital organs and the inability to respond to antimicrobial treatment bolstered the notion that the observed thromboembolic and vascular lesion was attributed to possible vasoconstrictive effects of ergot alkaloids. Case 2: A previously encountered similar case in a 4-month old, male calf showing gangrene of hind limbs and posterior ataxia was likewise presented. These two cases were impressed as probable ergotism. Ergotism may be uncommon or underreported in Korea. Future isolation of ergot alkaloids in feeds or in pasture is highly suggested.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Pharmacy
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.120-129
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• 2015

Objectives: Drug utilization review program in Korea has provided 'drug combinations to avoid (DCA)' alerts to physicians and pharmacists to prevent potential adverse drug events or inappropriate drug use. Seven hundred and six DCA pairs have been announced officially by the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS) by March, 2015. Some DCA pairs could be grouped based on the drug interaction mechanism and its consequences. This study aimed to investigate the drug-drug interaction (DDI) pairs, which may be potential DCAs, generated by the drug class-drug class interaction method. Methods: Eleven additive/synergistic and one antagonistic drug class-drug class interaction groups were identified. By combining drugs of two interacting drug class groups, numerous DDI pairs were made. The status and severity of DDI pairs were examined using Lexicomp and Micromedex. Also, the DCA listing rate was calculated. Results: Among 258 DDI pairs generated by the drug class-drug class interaction method, only 142 pairs were identified as official DCA pairs by the MFDS. One hundred and four pairs were identified as potential DCA pairs to be listed. QT prolonging agents-QT prolonging agents, triptans-ergot alkaloids, tricyclic antidepressants-monoamine oxidase inhibitors, and dopamine agonists-dopamine antagonists were identified as drug class-drug class interaction groups which have less than 50 % DCA listing rate. Conclusion: To improve the clinicians' adaptability to DCA alerts, the list of DCA pairs needs to be continuously updated.