“Clavin,” Vahlen's active principle of ergot

Abstract

In a recent paper Vahlen 1 describes the isolation of the two constituents of clavin, a crystalline substance isolated by him from ergot. By means of their copper salts two substances, leucin and “clavin base” of the formula C₅H₁₁O₂N, were separated from the clavin. From analysis of clavin it appeared to consist of leucin and clavin base in molecular proportions, and was regarded as a salt-like combination, similar to that in which some alkaloid bases are found, the leucin acting as acid, the clavin base as base. Vahlen regards clavin as the active principle of ergot in stimulating contraction of the uterus, and the clavin base as the active constituent of clavin.

From the description of clavin, it appeared similar in both physical and chemical properties to the mixture of leucin and valin obtained from proteins. A sample of Vahlen's clavin was obtained from Merck and submitted to the process devised for determination of leucin, isoleucin, and valin in the presence of one another. 2 The clavin, which when purified free from ash had the properties described by Vahlen, consisted entirely of these three amino acids, the latter being isolated analytically pure: 2.02 grams of clavin gave 0.79 gram of leucin, 0.45 gram isoleucin, 0.75 gram valin. We have not yet determined whether any of these amino acids has the pharmacological effect assigned to clavin.