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Digitalis

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Synonyms: Foxglove leaves, Purple Foxglove, Folia Digitalis

Biological source:

Botanical name: Digitalis purpurea

Part used: dried leaves

Family: Scrophulariaceae

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Geographical source:

  • Grows wild in European countries.
  • Cultivated in Holland, France, England, North America and Kashmir of India

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Macroscopical features

    • Color: dark greyish green
    • Odor: odorless
    • Taste: bitter
    • Shape: ovate lanceolate to broadly ovate
    • Size: 10-30 cm long, 4-10 cm wide
    • Other features: Leaves have subacute apex, decurrent base and crenate (rounded tooth) or dentate margin. The upper surface is hairy and little wrinkled. The lower surface is hairy and very pubescent.

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Microscopical features

  • Has plenty of trichomes.
  • Covering trichome uniseriate, usually 3-4 celled, having collapsed cells, acute apex and finely warty cuticle.
  • Glandular trichomes have unicellular stalk and usually bicellular head.
  • Anomocytic stomata present
  • Calcium oxalate crystals absent.
  • Trichomes and stomata are more in number in lower surface.
  • Pericycle is parenchymatous above and collenchymatous below.

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Chemical constituents

contains 0.2-0.45% glycoside

Important constituent include Digitoxin, Digoxin, Gitoxin etc

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Pharmacological action / Uses

    • Cardiac stimulant and tonic
    • Enables heart to beat more slowly, powerfully and regularly without requriing more oxygen.
    • Stimulate flow of urine and lowers blood volume
    • Useful in congestive heart failure, atrial flutter and atrial fibrillation.

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    • Note: Digitalis glycosides have cumulative effects and thus administration of the drug needs to be done under strict medical supervision
    • tonic (that makes patient healthier, strong and more energetic)

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