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What Role Does Digitalis Serve in Medicinal Cardiovascular Treatments? by Brennan Barkley Overview “Digitalis” is often used to describe cardiac glycosides (Digoxin/Digitoxin) Other active ingredients: Digitalin, Digitalein, Digitonin These compounds are isolated from plants of the genus Digitalis or “Foxglove” Structure Digoxin (C41H64O14) Where Does it Come From? The extractions are taken from the leaves of the plant Only green, perfect leaves picked Unpleasant odor, bitter taste Digitalis purpurea Early History The earliest use of cardiac glycosides dates back to the Roman Empire—red squill William Withering, 1785—introduced Digitalis into medicine Charles Darwin Modern Use Used to increase cardiac contractility (positive inotrope) Also used as an antiarrhythmic agent Mechanism? Disadvantages Digitalis intoxication: Nausea Vomiting Anorexia Diarrhea Excessive amounts can lead to further heart problems—irregular pulse, convulsions Xanthopsia—Vincent Van Gogh In the News In 2003, Charles Cullen admitted to killing nearly forty hospital patients with overdoses of compounds such as Digoxin Research Lin H. Juang, Taiwan—prostate cancer University of Sevilla, Department of Pharmacology, Spain—anti-tumor activity J. Haux Institute of Cancer Research and Molecular Biology, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim—anticancer research Conclusions Glycosides isolated from the genus Digitalis have been used since the mid 18th century to treat cardiac afflictions The extractions are taken from healthy leaves of the plant Mechanism of action—affects Na+/K+ pump Excess amounts of the drug can have severe side effects or even be fatal Bibliography http://www.botanical.com/botanical/mgmh/f/foxglo30 .html http://www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifi er=4537 http://www.emedicine.com/EMERG/topic137.htm http://www.csdl.tamu.edu/FLORA/Wilson/481/medb ot/bot2.htm http://www.yofast.org/d/digitalis/info.html http://fourfoldhealing.com/2007/12/30/digitalis/ Google Image Search