Liquid Chromatographic Method for the Determination of Ergot Alkaloids in Cereal Grains

Ergot is a parasitic infection of cereal grains by the fungus Claviceps purpurea. The visible symptom of ergot is the presence of dark purple sclerotia (or “ergot bodies”) in place of the cereal kernel. Within these sclerotia the fungus produces ergot alkaloids as secondary metabolites (i.e., they do not contribute directly to the growth of the fungus). The production of ergot alkaloids is affected by many factors including the maturity of the fungus, its host plant, and geographic and prevailing weather conditions. Ergot bodies associated with rye, wheat, triticale, and barley have been found to contain up to 0.45%, 0.31%, 0.75%, and 1.04% of ergot alkaloids (1-3 ).