3159. Digitalis

Nomenclature

Foxglove; fairy gloves; purple foxglove.

Description and references

Dried leaves of Digitalis purpurea L., Scrophulariaceae. Habit. Southern and central Europe, cultivated in the U.S. Constit. Digitoxin (0.2-0.4%), digitonin, digitalin, antirhinic acid, digitalosmin, digitoflavone, inositol, pectin. One U.S.P. digitalis unit represents the potency of 0.1 g of the U.S.P. Digitalis Reference Standard. Toxicology: A. P. Somlyo, Am. J. Cardiol. 5, 523 (1960). Review of mechanism of action and clinical use: T. W. Smith, N. Engl. J. Med. 318, 358-365 (1988). Book: C. Fisch, B. Surawicz, Digitalis (Grune & Stratton, New York, 1969) 244 pp.

Caution

Potential symptoms of overexposure are anorexia, nausea, salivation, vomiting, diarrhea, headache, drowsiness, disorientation, delirium, hallucinations; death may result. See Clinical Toxicology of Commercial Products, R. E. Gosselin et al., Eds. (Williams & Wilkins, Baltimore, 4th ed., 1976) Section III, pp 124-133.

Therapeutic Category

Cardiotonic.

Therapeutic Category (Veterinary)

Cardiotonic.

Keywords

Cardiotonic