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Alkaloid vs Ergotism - What's the difference?

alkaloid | ergotism |

As nouns the difference between alkaloid and ergotism

is that alkaloid is any of many organic heterocyclic bases, that occur in nature and often have medicinal properties while ergotism is the effect of long-term ergot poisoning, traditionally due to the ingestion of the alkaloids produced by the Claviceps purpurea fungus which infects rye and other cereals, and more recently by the action of a number of ergoline-based drugs.

As an adjective alkaloid

is relating to, resembling, or containing alkali.

alkaloid

English

(wikipedia alkaloid)

Noun

(en noun)
  • (organic chemistry) Any of many organic heterocyclic bases, that occur in nature and often have medicinal properties.

    • Hyponyms

    * See also

    Related terms

    * atropine * codeine * Demerol * emetine * ergotamine * lysergic acid * meperidine * morphine * nicotine * papaverine * pethidine * piperidine * reserpine * scopine * strychnine * thebaine * yohimbine

    Adjective

    (en adjective)
  • Relating to, resembling, or containing alkali.
    • (Webster 1913) ----

    ergotism

    English

    Etymology 1

    Noun

    (wikipedia ergotism)
  • The effect of long-term ergot poisoning, traditionally due to the ingestion of the alkaloids produced by the Claviceps purpurea fungus which infects rye and other cereals, and more recently by the action of a number of ergoline-based drugs.
    • Synonyms
    * ergotoxicosis * Saint Anthony's fire

    Etymology 2

    (etyl) ergotisme, from (etyl) (lena) ergo.

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • A logical deduction.
    • (Sir Thomas Browne)