Ergometrine (EGM)

Ergometrine is an ergoline (and lysergamide) derivative, and one of the primary ergot and morning glory alkaloids . It is chemically similar to lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD), ergine, and lysergic acid. While it acts at alpha-adrenergic, dopaminergic, and serotonin receptors (the 5-HT2 receptor), it exerts on the uterus (and other smooth muscles) a powerful stimulant effect not clearly associated with a specific receptor type. It has a medical use in obstetrics to facilitate delivery of the placenta and to prevent bleeding after childbirth by causing smooth muscle tissue in the blood vessel walls to narrow, thereby reducing blood flow. It is usually combined with oxytocin (Syntocinon) as syntometrine. Ergometrine, 1-hydroxymethylethylamide lysergic acid, is synthesized by esterification of D-lysergic acid using 2-aminopropanol in dimethylformamide and direct treatment of the reaction mixture with phosgene.