Alkaloids are organic compounds containing nitrogen that are produced by some plants, bacteria, fungi, and animals. Several alkaloids are produced by fungi, including ergot alkaloids from the claviceps fungi that grow on rye and other grains. Ergotamine is an ergot alkaloid used medicinally as a vasoconstrictor. Psilocybin mushrooms contain the hallucinogenic compound psilocybin. Other fungal alkaloids include oxaline from Penicillium fungi and paramine from Neotyphodium fungi.

1. Alkaloids in Fungi
Rayeess Ahmad Dar
MSc. Bioresources
Semester 3rd
Roll No. 23352
University of Kashmir
Hazratbal Srinagar

2. Alkaloids
Alkaloids are the cyclic organic compounds
in which nitrogen forms a part of the cycle
system and are physiologically active as
poisons and drugs.

3.  Alkaloids are mostly produced by plants.
 However, some are derived from bacteria,
fungi, animals.
 Synthesized from amino acids.

4. Classification
 1. True (Typical Alkaloids): Derived from amino
acids and have nitrogen in a heterocyclic ring.
Atropine.
 2. Protoalkaloids: Derived from amino acids and do
not have nitrogen in a heterocyclic ring. Ephedrine.
 3. Pseudo alkaloids: Not derived from amino acids
but have nitrogen in a heterocyclic ring. Caffeine.
 4. False alkaloids: Non alkaloids which give false
positive reaction with alkaloidal reagents.

5. Main Functions
 They act as protective agents against insects,
herbivores due to their bitterness and toxicity.
So, they can be used as biopesticides and
bioinsecticides.
 They also act as a source of nitrogen in case of
nitrogen deficiency.
 Many of them have medicinal properties.

6. Some of the Alkaloids present in
Fungi

7. Alkaloids From Ergot Fungi
 Ergot fungi belong to the Claviceps genera.
 These fungi affect rye (mostly), wheat, barley.
 The fungi produce alkaloids such as
Ergotamine, Ergometrine, Ergonaline and
various other Clavine alkaloids.
 Has the biological activity as vasoconstrictors.

8. Ergotamine
 It has the biological activity as a
vasoconstrictor.
 It is used medicinally for the treatment of
acute migrain attacks (sometimes in
combination with caffeine).
 It has been used to prevent post-partum
hemorrhage (bleeding after child birth).
 It was first isolated by Arthur Stoll in 1918.

9.  Methergin is the brand name of
the drug that has been derived
from Ergot and is used to stop
post natal bleeding

10. ergotamine
Ergot on rye

11.  However, high doses of ergot alkaloids or
taking the infected grains lead to Ergotism.
 It is characterized by spasms, diarrhea, head
aches, vomiting etc.

12. Loline alkaloids
 These are insecticidal and insect-deterrent
compounds.
 These are produced in grasses infected by
endophytic fungal symbionts of the genus
Epichloe and Neotyphodium.
 First isolated from the grass Lolium
temulentum.

13. Psilocybin
 Produced by about 200 species of mushrooms
collectively called psilocybin mushrooms (such as
Psilocybe azurescens, P. cyanescens and a number of
other genera).
 When ingested, psilocybin is turned into psilocin
within the body, which in turn is responsible for
hallucinations, changes in perception, a distorted
sense of time and can include possible adverse
reactions such as nausea and panic attacks.

14. Psilocybe azurescens - Flying Psilocybe cyanescens
Saucers

15. Oxaline
 Derived from Penicillium oxalicum, which
usually grows on dead and decaying matter.
 This alkaloid was found to arrest the cell cycle
by inhibition of tubulin polymerisation.

16. Penicillium rot caused by Penicillium oxalicum in the
corn

17. Paramine
 Produced by some grass infecting
Neotyphodium species.
 The alkaloid protects the grass againest
grazing by mammals and insects.
 This alkaloid can also be used as
bioinsecticide and biopesticide.