Download 1Digitalis

Collection & preparation of
drug
Digitalis
DEPARTMENT OF TECHNICAL EDUCATION
ANDHRA PRADESH
Name of the Staff
: M. Padmavathi
Designation
: Assoc. Lecturer
Branch
: D. Pharmacy
Institute
: K.N.P.W.
Year
: D. Pharmacy I year
Subject
: Pharmacognosy
Subject Code
: PH-103
Topic
: Collection & preparation of drug
Duration
: 50 Minutes
Sub Topic
: Digitalis
Teaching Aids
: PPT, Animations, Photographs
OBJECTIVES
On completion of this period, you would be able to
know
• The Biological source
• Cultivation
• Collection and
• Preparation for the market of Digitalis.
Known to Unknown
DIGITALIS PLANT
Fig.79.1
DIGITALIS FLOWERS
Fig.79.2
Purple Foxglove
(Digitalis purpurea)
Fig.79.3
DIGITALIS LEAF
SYNONYMS :
• Digitalis Leaves, Foxglove Leaves
BIOLOGICAL SOURCE :
• Digitalis consists of dried leaves of Digitalis purpurea
belonging to the family Scrophulariaceae, dried at a
temperature below 60oC, immediately after collecting the
leaves. The leaves should contain not more than 5% of
moisture.
FARM VIEW
Fig.79.4
Cultivation of Digitalis in an open field
DIGITALIS FLOWERS
Fig.79.4
(Digitalis Purpurea) seedlings
Fig.79.5
Observing the Seedlings
Fig.79.6
HARVESTING OF DIGITALIS
• No leaves are to be used for medicinal purposes that are
not taken from 2 year old plants.
• Leaves are picked when the bloom spike has run up and
about two-third of flowers are expanded, because at this
time before the ripening of the seeds, the leaves are in
the most active state.
• They may be collected as long as they are in good
condition.
HARVESTING OF DIGITALIS
• Only green, perfect leaves being picked.
• All those that are insect eaten or diseased or tinged with
purple or otherwise discoloured must be discarded.
• Leaves from seedlings are valueless and they must also
be collected in springs, before the plant flowers or in the
autumn, when it has seeded as the activity of the
alkaloids is in each case is too low.
PREPARATION FOR MARKET
• The fresh crop should if possible be delivered to the
wholesale buyer the same day as cut.
• If this is impossible on account of distance, they should
be picked before the dew falls in the late afternoon and
dispatched the same evening.
• Packed loosely in wicker baskets lined with an open kind
of muslin.
• Consignments by rail should be labeled “URGENT
MEDICINAL HERBS” to ensure quick delivery.
• The weather for picking must be absolutely dry – no
damp or rain in the air and leaves must be kept out of
the sun and not packed too closely or they may heat and
turn yellow.
PREPARATION FOR MARKET
• The odour of fresh leaves is unpleasant, the taste of both
fresh and dried leaves is disagreeably bitter.
• Foxgloues have in some places been recklessly fathered
by over- zealous and thoughtless collectors without due
record to the future supply of the plants.
• The plant should not be roughly treated and never cut off
just above the root, but the bottom leaves should in all
cases be left to nourish the flower spikes in order that
the seed may be ripened.
PREPARATION FOR MARKET
• The dried leaves as imported have occasionally been
found adulterated with leaves of various other plants.
• The Chief of these are Inula conyza
• Inula helenium
• Symphytom officinale
• Verbascum thapsus
• Foxglove leaves are easy to distinguish by their veins
running down the leaves.
CHEMICAL CONSTITUENTS
• Digitalis contains 0.2 to 0.45 % of Cardiac glycosides
(Cardenolides), Purpurea glycosides A and B, which are
primary glycosides.
• Digitalis also contains several other glycosides such as
Odoroside H, Glucogitaloxin, Gitaloximn, Verodoxin and
Glucoverodoxin.
CHEMICAL CONSTITUENTS
• The products of hydrolysis of purpurea glycoside A and
purpurea glycoside B, the chief active constituents of the drug
are as under
Purpurea glycoside A
Purpurea glycoside A
enzymatic
enzymatic
hydrolysis
hydrolysis
Digitoxin + Glucose
hydrolysis
Digitoxigenin + Digitoxose
Gitoxin + Glucose
hydrolysis
Gitoxigenin + Digitoxose
USES
• Digitalis increases excitability of Cardiac muscles and
produces more powerful contractions.
• It is effective in Congestive cardiac failure to increase
cardiac output and to relieve venous congestion.
• Hence it is described as a Cardiotonic.
• The improvement of circulation through kidney results in
diuresis and loss of Oedema.
• The major disadvantage of Digitalis is that it has
cumulative effect and therefore, in prolonged treatment
one has to watch the patient carefully.
SUMMARY
In this class we have discussed about
cultivation, collection and preparation of drug to
market along with Chemical constituents and
uses of Digitalis
QUIZ
1.Digitalis leaf is synonymous to
a) Henbane
b) Fox glove
c) Deadly night shade
d) None of the above
QUIZ
2)
Digitals belongs to
a) Euphorbiaceae
b) Rubiaceae
c) Scrophularaceae
d) Ranunculaceae
Frequently Asked Questions
1.
What are the other names of Digitalis?
2.
Write down the biological source of Digitalis.
3.
What are the chemical constituents of Digitalis?
4.
Which is the drug which is used as Cardio tonic?
5.
What is percentage limit of moisture that the drug
should contain?
6.
How the harvesting of the drug done?
THANK YOU