Zur Kenntnis des Polypeptidteils der Mutterkornalkaloide II. (partielle alkalische Hydrolyse der Mutterkornalkaloide). 20. Mitteilung über Mutterkornalkaloide

Cleaving Ergot Alkaloids by Hydrazinolysis-A Promising Approach for a Sum Parameter Screening Method

Ergot alkaloids are mycotoxins formed by fungi of the Claviceps genus, which are some of the most common contaminants of food and feed worldwide. These toxins are a structurally heterogeneous group of compounds, sharing an ergoline backbone. Six structures and their corresponding stereoisomers are typically quantified by either HPLC-FLD or HPLC-MS/MS and the values subsequently summed up to determine the total ergot alkaloid content. For the development of a screening method targeting all ergot alkaloids simultaneously, the alkaloids need to be transferred to one homogeneous structure: a lysergic acid derivative. In this study, two promising cleaving methods—acidic esterification and hydrazinolysis—are compared, using dihydroergocristine as a model compound. While the acidic esterification proved to be unsuitable, due to long reaction times and oxidation sensitivity, hydrazinolysis reached a quantitative yield in 40‒60 min. Parallel workup of several samples is possible. An increasing effect on the reaction rate by the addition of ammonium iodide was demonstrated. Application of hydrazinolysis to a major ergot alkaloid mix solution showed that all ergopeptines were cleaved, but ergometrine/-inine was barely affected. Still, hydrazinolysis is a suitable tool for the development of a sum parameter screening method for ergot alkaloids in food and feed.

Ergot alkaloids--sources, structures and analytical methods

Natural sources, i.e. fungal strains and species producing ergot alkaloids (EA), are surveyed together with the chemical structures of EA and a list of new natural EA discovered in the last three decades. Other topics include new efficient chromatographic methods (HPLC) for the separation and isolation of new natural EA and also immunological methods of EA detection.

THE IDENTIFICATION AND DETERMINATION OF LYSERGIC ACID DIETHYLAMIDE IN NARCOTIC SEIZURES

Methods are described by which lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) can be identified and determined in the presence of heroin, other narcotics and controlled drugs. Thin layer chromatography and an Ehrlich’s-reagent spray is applied to the LSD-containing material. For confirmation, thin layer chromatography after ultra-violet irradiation and acid hydrolysis should be carried out where ergot alkaloids are present. Spectrophotofluorometric analysis of LSD can be used in the presence of heroin, other narcotics and controlled drugs with a standard error of ±2%. If ergot alkaloids are present, thin layer separation, elution and subsequent fluorometric analysis are recommended.