Abstract
SOME years ago, Chassar Moir1 demonstrated by clinical experiments that aqueous extracts of ergot, so far from being valueless as maintained by pharmacologists, contain an oxytocio principle with a remarkably rapid action on the human puerperal uterus. This principle was isolated by Dudley and Moir2 and found to be a water soluble alkaloid, which they named ergometrine. During the process of manufacture of this alkaloid, we have isolated in addition a new alkaloid which is isomeric with ergometrine and convertible into it. The relationship is apparently similar to that existing between the alkaloidal pairs orgotoxine-ergotinine and ergotamine-ergotaminine. We have accordingly named it ergometrinine. In the above-mentioned pairs, one member in each case is comparatively inert. Whether the new alkaloid has the same clinical action as ergometrine or is a relatively inert isomeride remains a question for clinical investigation.
Similar content being viewed by others
Article PDF
References
B.M.J., 1, 1119 ; 1932.
B.M.J., 1, 520 ; 1935.
Smith and Timmis, J. Chem. Soc., 763, 1543 ; 1932. 674 ; 1934.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
SMITH, S., TIMMIS, G. A New Alkaloid of Ergot. Nature 136, 259 (1935). https://doi.org/10.1038/136259b0
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/136259b0
This article is cited by
-
A New Alkaloid of Ergot
Nature (1936)
Comments
By submitting a comment you agree to abide by our Terms and Community Guidelines. If you find something abusive or that does not comply with our terms or guidelines please flag it as inappropriate.