title: Ergot and its alkaloids.
abstract: This manuscript reviews the history and pharmacognosy of ergot, and describes the isolation/preparation, chemistry, pharmacodynamics, and pharmacotherapeutics of the major ergot alkaloids and their derivatives. A brief discussion of the hallucinogenic properties of lysergic acid diethylamide is also featured. An abbreviated form of the material found in this paper is presented in a 4-hour didactic format to third-professional year PharmD students as part of their study of vascular migraine headaches, Parkinson's disease, and naturally occurring hallucinogens/hallucinogen derivatives in the modular course offering Neurology/Psychiatry.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15261, USA. pschiff@pitt.edu
authors.forename: Paul L
authors.initials: PL
authors.lastname: Schiff
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004876:Ergot Alkaloids / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology; D006213:Hallucinogens / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology; D006801:Humans; D008238:Lysergic Acid Diethylamide / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology; D011985:Receptors, Serotonin / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D004876:Ergot Alkaloids; D006213:Hallucinogens; D011985:Receptors, Serotonin; D008238:Lysergic Acid Diethylamide