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Review
. 2015 Jun 3;7(6):2024-50.
doi: 10.3390/toxins7062024.

Analysis of Ergot Alkaloids

Affiliations
Review

Analysis of Ergot Alkaloids

Colin Crews. Toxins (Basel). .

Abstract

The principles and application of established and newer methods for the quantitative and semi-quantitative determination of ergot alkaloids in food, feed, plant materials and animal tissues are reviewed. The techniques of sampling, extraction, clean-up, detection, quantification and validation are described. The major procedures for ergot alkaloid analysis comprise liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) and liquid chromatography with fluorescence detection (LC-FLD). Other methods based on immunoassays are under development and variations of these and minor techniques are available for specific purposes.

Keywords: LSD; ergot; ergotamine; ergovaline; lysergic acid; mycotoxins.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Structures of representative types of some major ergot alkaloids (EA).
Figure 2
Figure 2
Epimerisation at the EA C8 position.

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