PDR for Herbal Medicines

280/ENGLISH PLANTAIN

Further information in:

Hansel R, Keller K, Rimpler H, Schneider G (Hrsg.), Hagers

Handbuch der Pharmazeutischen Praxis, 5. Aufl., Bde 4-6

(Drogen), Springer Verlag Berlin, Heidelberg, New York, 1992-

1994.

Madaus G, Lehrbuch der Biologischen Arzneimittel, Bde. 1-3,

Nachdruck, Georg Olms Verlag Hildesheim 1979.

Schulz R, Hansel R, Rationale Phytotherapie, Springer Verlag

Heidelberg 1996.

Steinegger E, Hansel R, Pharmakognosie, 5. Aufl., Springer

Verlag Heidelberg 1992.

Teuscher E, Biogene Arzneimittel, 5. Aufl., Wiss. Verlagsges.

Stuttgart 1997.

Wagner H, Wiesenauer M, Phytotherapie. Phytopharmaka und

pflanzliche Homoopathika, Fischer-Verlag, Stuttgart, Jena, New

York 1995.

Wichtl M (Hrsg.), Teedrogen, 4. Aufl., Wiss. Verlagsges.

Stuttgart 1997.

Ephedra sinica

See Ma-Huang

Epigae repens

See Trailing Arbutus

Epilobium species

See Willow Herb

Equisetum arvense

See Horsetail

Ergot

Claviceps purpurea
DESCRIPTION
Medicinal Parts: The medicinal part of the fungus is the
sclerotium, which grows on rye plants and is later dried.
Flower and Fruit: Ergot is a permanent form of a fungus that
is a parasite on ripening rye, wheat and other grasses. It is
black, hard and much larger than the grains of rye. The cycle

PDR FOR HERBAL MEDICINES

of the fungus begins with the infection of the ovary by an

ascospore. The spore, usually deposited by a visiting insect,

germinates on the stigma, and the hyphae grows down into

the ovary where it appropriates food destined for the grain.

When the ovary has been completely destroyed, the myceli-

um grows. Horizontal walls are formed and fat vacuoles *f£

become visible. The hyphae of the skin layer store purple

pigment 3 weeks after the infection a long, curved, black

sclerotium develops. It reaches a length of up to 8 cm and

bears minute condia, which are made up of the remains of

the ovary and the style embedded into the loose mycelium.

The sclerotium usually falls to the ground before harvest and

survives the winter. In the spring, 1 to 3 cm long red-

stemmed, capitula-like, pink fruiting bodies grow out of it,

which in turn produce 50 to 70 u.m long thread-like

ascospores.

Habitat: Claviceps purpurea grows as a parasite on rye

(occasionally on other grasses), and is found in all areas of

the world where rye is cultivated.

Production: Ergot consists of the sclerotium of Claviceps

purpurea, a parasitic fungus harvested after it has grown on

cultivated rye.

Other Names: Cockspur Rye, Hornseed, Mother of Rye, *

Smut Rye, Spurred Rye

ACTIONS AND PHARMACOLOGY

COMPOUNDS

Indole alkaloids (ergot alkaloids, varying by variety of ergot)

Chief alkaloid of the lysergic acid amide type: ergometrine

(ergobasine)

Chief alkaloid of the lysergic acid ergopeptine type:

ergotamine, ergovaline, ergosine, ergocristine, ergocornine,

alpha- and beta-ergocryptine, further alkaloids of the clavine

type: including among others agroclavine, elymoclavine,

festuclavine

Peptide alkaloids (ergopeptine group): especially ergot-

amine, as well as ergovaline, ergosine, ergocristine, ergocor-

nine, alpha- and beta-ergocryptine

Xanthone derivatives (ergochromes): including, among oth-

ers, secalonic acid A to C, ergoflavin

Anthracene derivatives: including, among others, clavoru- «*

bine, endocrocine

Amines: including, among others, trimethylamine,

methylamine

Fatty oil

EFFECTS

The drug contains ergoline alkaloids of which only ergomet-

rin and ergopeptine have a therapeutic and toxic effect. The