Ergotoxin

/ɛrɡoʊˈtɑksɪn/ noun

Definition

A toxic alkaloid compound produced by the ergot fungus that causes poisoning in people and animals who consume contaminated grain.

Etymology

From ergot combined with the suffix -toxin, meaning poisonous substance; created as a scientific term to describe specific alkaloids from the ergot fungus.

Kelly Says

Ergotoxins include lysergic acid, which is the natural precursor to LSD—the ergot fungus essentially creates the building blocks for one of the most powerful hallucinogens ever discovered.

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