Ergot: The Fungi & The Alkaloids

Ergot describes a group of fungi with powerful alkaloids. So powerful, that they have impact in history, medicine, and possibly religion. It's famous for the morbid poisoning in humans, for catalyzing the synthesis of LSD,  and its potential role in ancient ceremony. Today we are honored to speak with Dr. Daniel Panaccione, who is one of few ergot alkaloid specialists. Having studied their biosynthesis and genetics, he is a true expert on their chemical matters.

Dr. Panaccione is a professor of plant and soil sciences at West Virginia University where he works on genetic manipulation and chemical analyses to understand underlying genes of ergot alkaloids and reconstruct its pathways.

Topics Covered

Defining Ergot species & their respective metabolitesLife cycle of Claviceps purpurea and it's ecological rolesHow an ergot fungus may be behind the Salem Witch Trials and other historical eventsSynthesis of ergot alkaloid-based drugs and medicinesMechanisms of action with ergot alkaloids in the human bodyDEA regulation on ergot alkaloids and like compoundsEvolution of ergot alkaloid producing fungiPotential and unlikely organisms that contain ergot alkaloidsThe inadvertent discovery of LSDPharmacology of ergot alkaloids: challenges, history, methods and R&D

Show notes

Dr. Panaccione's WVU profile: https://www.davis.wvu.edu/faculty-staff/directory/daniel-panaccione

Hamilton’s Pharmacopeia feat. Ergot and Dr. Panaccione: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7N4VoqeuK3s

Ergot Museum: https://www.minnpost.com/mnopedia/2014/04/minnesota-wheat-fungus-helped-win-world-war-ii/

Linnda Caporael's report on the Salem Witch Trials: https://www.pbs.org/wnet/secrets/witches-curse-interview/1502/

Growing Ergot: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BrKfF-G_Cug

Life Cycle of Ergot: https://www.apsnet.org/edcenter/disandpath/fungalasco/pdlessons/Pages/Ergot.aspx
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sWH--o1ccMY

Structure of Ergot Alkaloids: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5480214/

Suggestive reports on Ergot in Sumerian Clay Tablets, Mesopotamian Temples, and Chinese literature: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1637017/

The Immortality Key — How ergot may be involved in religious influence: https://www.vox.com/vox-conversations-podcast/2021/3/4/21759683/christianity-psychedelics-brian-muraresku-the-immortality-key

Ergot as an ingredient in the Kykeon: http://www.psychedelic-library.org/paspali.htm

Downloadable literature: https://drive.google.com/drive/u/2/folders/1g64gVETsao2bC_cDK1QjBYbBW7Uu0iHQ