The history of ergot of rye (Claviceps purpurea) III: 1940-80.

The history of ergot between 1940 and 1980 was shaped by Arthur Stoll and Albert Hofmann. Their isolation of LSD from ergot sparked hope that it would reveal the cause of schizophrenia and other psychoses, but this expectation was not fulfilled, and Hofmann privately regretted his extensive work on the compound. In contrast, bromocriptine, derived from ergocriptine, became a crucial substance for understanding dopamine receptors in the central nervous system and is widely used to suppress lactation, treat prolactinomas, and manage Parkinson's disease.

Study at a glance

Abstract

The period 1940-80 in the history of ergot was dominated by two investigators, Arthur Stoll and Albert Hofmann. There was great excitement when their group isolated from ergot preparations the powerful psychotropic agent lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD). It was thought that this substance would help to find the cause of schizophrenia and other psychotic disorders, but it would prove to be a great disappointment and Hofmann would say later, in private, that he regretted having spent so much time on the compound. By contrast, bromocriptine, derived from ergocriptine, would prove a pivotal substance in our knowledge of dopamine receptors in the central nervous system. It is widely used for the suppression of lactation, the treatment of prolactinomas and the management of Parkinson's disease.