Foxglove
Digitalis purpurea (Common Foxglove)
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae Division: Magnoliophyta Class: Magnoliopsida Order: Lamiales Family: Plantaginaceae[1] Genus: Digitalis L.
Species
About 20 species, including: Digitalis cariensis Digitalis ciliata Digitalis davisiana Digitalis dubia Digitalis ferruginea Digitalis grandiflora Digitalis laevigata Digitalis lanata Digitalis leucophaea Digitalis lutea Digitalis obscura Digitalis parviflora Digitalis purpurea Digitalis thapsi Digitalis trojana Digitalis viridiflora Image File history File links Download high resolution version (480x640, 89 KB) Name Digitalis purpurea Family Scrophulariaceae Image no. ... Scientific classification redirects here. ... Divisions Green algae land plants (embryophytes) non-vascular embryophytes Hepatophyta - liverworts Anthocerophyta - hornworts Bryophyta - mosses vascular plants (tracheophytes) seedless vascular plants Lycopodiophyta - clubmosses Equisetophyta - horsetails Pteridophyta - true ferns Psilotophyta - whisk ferns Ophioglossophyta - adderstongue ferns seed plants (spermatophytes) †Pteridospermatophyta - seed ferns Pinophyta - conifers Cycadophyta - cycads Ginkgophyta - ginkgo Gnetophyta - gnetae Magnoliophyta - flowering... Classes Magnoliopsida - Dicots Liliopsida - Monocots The flowering plants or angiosperms are the most widespread group of land plants. ... Magnoliopsida is the botanical name for a class of flowering plants. ... Families See text The Order Lamiales is a taxon in the asterid group of dicotyledonous flowering plants. ... Genera See text. ... Carl Linnaeus, Latinized as Carolus Linnaeus, also known after his ennoblement as  , (May 13, 1707[1] – January 10, 1778), was a Swedish botanist, physician and zoologist[2] who laid the foundations for the modern scheme of nomenclature. ... Binomial name Digitalis grandiflora is a plant species in the genus Digitalis. ... Binomial name Digitalis lanata The Digitalis lanata (also Woolly Foxglove or Grecian Foxglove[1]) is a species of foxglove that grows in Eastern Europe. ... Digitalis lutea, a Yellow Foxglove, is a short-lived perennial plant. ... Binomial name Digitalis purpurea L. Digitalis purpurea (Common Foxglove or Purple Foxglove), is a flowering plant in the family Plantaginaceae (formerly treated in the family Scrophulariaceae), native to most of Europe. ...

Digitalis is a genus of about 20 species of herbaceous perennials, shrubs, and biennials that are commonly called foxgloves. The genus was traditionally placed in the figwort family Scrophulariaceae, but upon review of phylogenetic research, it has now been placed in the much enlarged family Plantaginaceae.^[1] The genus is native to Europe, western and central Asia, and northwestern Africa. The scientific name means "finger-like" and refers to the ease with which a flower of Digitalis purpurea can be fitted over a human fingertip. The flowers are produced on a tall spike, are tubular, and vary in colour with species, from purple to pink, white, and yellow. The best-known species is the Common Foxglove, Digitalis purpurea. It is a biennial, often grown as an ornamental plant due to its showy flowers, that range in colour from purples through to whites, with variable marks and spotting. The first year of growth produces only the long, basal leaves. In the second year, the erect leafy stem 0.5-2.5 m tall develops. The larvae of the Foxglove Pug feed on the flowers of Digitalis purpurea. Other Lepidoptera species feed on the leaves including Lesser Yellow Underwing. For other uses, see Herb (disambiguation). ... Red Valerian, a perennial plant. ... A Biennial plant is a plant that takes between twelve and twenty-four months to complete its lifecycle. ... Genera See text. ... A phylogeny (or phylogenesis) is the origin and evolution of a set of organisms, usually of a species. ... Genera See text. ... For other uses, see Europe (disambiguation). ... For other uses, see Asia (disambiguation). ... A world map showing the continent of Africa Africa is the worlds second-largest and second most-populous continent, after Asia. ... For other uses, see Flower (disambiguation). ... Binomial name Digitalis purpurea L. The Purple foxglove (Digitalis purpurea), also known as Common foxglove, is a biennial herb of the family Plantaginaceae native to Europe. ... A Biennial plant is a plant that takes between twelve and twenty-four months to complete its lifecycle. ... Petunia This article does not cite any references or sources. ... For other uses, see Flower (disambiguation). ... A larval insect A larva (Latin; plural larvae) is a juvenile form of animal with indirect development, undergoing metamorphosis (for example, insects or amphibians). ... Binomial name Eupithecia pulchellata Stephens, 1831 The Foxglove Pug (Eupithecia pulchellata) is a moth of the family Geometridae. ... Subdivisions See Taxonomy of Lepidoptera and Lepidopteran diversity. ... Binomial name Noctua comes Hübner, 1813 The Lesser Yellow Underwing (Noctua comes) is a moth of the family Noctuidae. ...

The term digitalis is also used for preparations containing cardiac glycosides, particularly digoxin, extracted from plants of this genus. Cardiac glycosides are drugs used in the treatment of congestive heart failure and cardiac arrhythmia. ... Digoxin (INN) (IPA: ) is a purified cardiac glycoside extracted from the foxglove plant, Digitalis lanata. ...

Medicinal use

Digitalis lutea

Medicines from foxgloves are called "Digitalin". The use of Digitalis purpurea extract containing cardiac glycosides for the treatment of heart conditions was first described by William Withering, in 1785, which is considered the beginning of modern therapeutics (Silverman)^[2][3] It is used to increase cardiac contractility (it is a positive inotrope) and as an antiarrhythmic agent to control the heart rate, particularly in the irregular (and often fast) atrial fibrillation. It is therefore often prescribed for patients in atrial fibrillation, especially if they have been diagnosed with heart failure. Image File history File links Download high resolution version (654x1024, 165 KB) Description: Digitalis lutea Picture taken by BerndH Date: 10. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (654x1024, 165 KB) Description: Digitalis lutea Picture taken by BerndH Date: 10. ... Digitalis lutea, a Yellow Foxglove, is a short-lived perennial plant. ... Binomial name Digitalis purpurea L. Digitalis purpurea (Common Foxglove or Purple Foxglove), is a flowering plant in the family Plantaginaceae (formerly treated in the family Scrophulariaceae), native to most of Europe. ... Cardiac glycosides are drugs used in the treatment of congestive heart failure and cardiac arrhythmia. ... The heart and lungs, from an older edition of Grays Anatomy. ... William Withering William Withering (March 17, 1741, Wellington, Shropshire - October 6, 1799) was an English botanist, geologist, chemist, physician and the discoverer of digitalis. ... An inotrope is an agent which increases or decreases the force or energy of muscular contractions. ... Antiarrhythmic agents are a group of pharmaceuticals that are used to suppress fast rhythms of the heart (cardiac arrhythmias), such as atrial fibrillation, atrial flutter, ventricular tachycardia, and ventricular fibrillation. ... Atrial fibrillation (AF or afib) is a cardiac arrhythmia (abnormal heart rhythm) that involves the two upper chambers (atria) of the heart. ...

A group of pharmacologically active compounds are extracted mostly from the leaves of the second year's growth, and in pure form are referred to by common chemical names such as digitoxin or digoxin, or by brand names such as Crystodigin and Lanoxin, respectively. The two drugs differ in that Digoxin has an additional hydroxyl group at the C-3 position on the B-ring (adjacent to the pentane). Both molecules include a lactone and a triple-repeating sugar called a glycoside. Species Digitalis ferruginea Digitalis grandiflora Digitalis lanata Digitalis lutea Digitalis obscura Digitalis purpurea Digitalis is a genus of about 20 species of herbaceous biennials, perennials and shrubs in the foxglove family Scrophulariaceae. ... Digoxin (INN) (IPA: ) is a purified cardiac glycoside extracted from the foxglove plant, Digitalis lanata. ... // Hydroxyl group The term hydroxyl group is used to describe the functional group -OH when it is a substituent in an organic compound. ... A lactone is a cyclic ester in organic chemistry. ... This article is about sugar as food and as an important and widely-traded commodity. ... A glycoside is a molecule where a sugar group is bonded through its anomeric carbon to a nonsugar group by either an oxygen or a nitrogen atom. ...

Digitalis works by inhibiting sodium-potassium ATPase. This results in an increased intracellular concentration of sodium, which in turn increases intracellular calcium by passively decreasing the action of the sodium-calcium exchanger in the sarcolemma. The increased intracellular calcium gives a positive inotropic effect. It also has a vagal effect on the parasympathetic nervous system, and as such is used in reentrant cardiac arrhythmias and to slow the ventricular rate during atrial fibrillation. The dependence on the vagal effect means that digitalis is not effective when a patient has a high sympathetic nervous system drive, which is the case with acutely ill persons, and also during exercise. The title given to this article is incorrect due to technical limitations. ... For other uses, see Calcium (disambiguation). ... Muscle system The sarcolemma is the cell membrane of a muscle cell. ... Inotropic: Affecting the force of muscle contraction. ... Autonomic nervous system innervation, showing the sympathetic and parasympathetic (craniosacral) systems, in red and blue, respectively The parasympathetic nervous system is one of three divisions of the autonomic nervous system. ... Cardiac arrhythmia is any of a group of conditions in which the electrical activity of the heart is irregular or is faster or slower than normal. ... Atrial fibrillation (AF or afib) is a cardiac arrhythmia (abnormal heart rhythm) that involves the two upper chambers (atria) of the heart. ... The Sympathetic Nervous System (SNS) is a branch of the autonomic nervous system. ...

Digitalis toxicity (Digitalis intoxication) results from an overdose of digitalis and causes anorexia, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea, as well as sometimes resulting in xanthopsia (jaundiced or yellow vision) and the appearance of blurred outlines (halos). Bradycardia also occurs. Because a frequent side effect of digitalis is reduction of appetite, some individuals have used the drug as a weight loss aid. This page is a candidate to be copied to Wiktionary using the Transwiki process. ... Bradycardia, as applied to adult medicine, is defined as a resting heart rate of under 60 beats per minute, though it is seldom symptomatic until the rate drops below 50 beat/min. ...

Digitalis is a classic example of a drug derived from a plant formerly used by folklorists and herbalists: herbalists have largely abandoned its use because of its narrow therapeutic index and the difficulty of determining the amount of active drug in herbal preparations. Once the usefulness of digitalis in regulating pulse was understood, it was employed for a variety of purposes, including the treatment of epilepsy and other seizure disorders, now considered inappropriate. The therapeutic index (also known as therapeutic ratio), is a comparison of the amount of a therapeutic agent that causes the therapeutic effect to the amount that causes toxic effects. ...

Toxicity

Digitalis purpurea drawings by Franz Köhler

Depending on the species, the digitalis plant may contain several deadly physiological and chemically related cardiac and steroidal glycosides. Thus, the digitalis has earned several more sinister monikers: Dead Man’s Bells, and Witches’ Gloves. Download high resolution version (1780x2219, 1095 KB)Drawing depicting Digitalis purpurea, from Franz Eugen Köhlers Medizinal-Pflantzen. ... Download high resolution version (1780x2219, 1095 KB)Drawing depicting Digitalis purpurea, from Franz Eugen Köhlers Medizinal-Pflantzen. ... Kohlers Medicinal Plants (Köhlers Medizinal-Pflanzen in naturgetreuen Abbildungen mit kurz erläuterndem Texte : Atlas zur Pharmacopoea germanica) is a German rare medicinal guide published in 1887 in three volumes. ... Cardiac glycosides are drugs used in the treatment of congestive heart failure and cardiac arrhythmia. ...

The entire plant is poisonous (including the roots and seeds), although the leaves of the upper stem are particularly potent, with just a nibble being enough to potentially cause death. Early symptoms of ingestion include nausea, vomiting, anorexia, diarrhea, abdominal pain, wild hallucinations, delirium, and severe headache. Depending on the severity of the toxicosis the victim may later suffer irregular and slow pulse, tremors, various cerebral disturbances, especially of a visual nature (unusual color visions with objects appearing yellowish to green, and blue halos around lights), convulsions, and deadly disturbances of the heart. For a case description, see the paper by Lacassie.^[4] This article is about the dangerous substance. ... For other uses, see Nausea (disambiguation). ... Heaving redirects here. ... This article is about the symptom of decreased appetite. ... In medicine, diarrhea, also spelled diarrhoea (see spelling differences), refers to frequent loose or liquid bowel movements. ... This article is about the mental state and medical condition. ... Fred Ward as Earl Bassett in the 1990 film Tremors. ... This article is about the medical condition. ...

There have been instances of people confusing digitalis with the harmless Symphytum (comfrey) plant (which is often brewed into a tea) with fatal consequences. Other fatal accidents involve children drinking the water in a vase containing digitalis plants. Drying does not reduce the toxicity of the plant. The plant is toxic to animals including all classes of livestock, as well as cats and dogs. Species Symphytum asperum Lepechin Symphytum officinale L. Symphytum tuberosum L. Symphytum x uplandicum Nyman Ref: ITIS 32025 2002-09-05. ...

Digitalis poisoning can cause heart block and bradycardia (lowered heart rate) and tachycardia (increased heart rate). It can cause either, depending on the dose and the condition of one's heart. It should however be noted, that electric cardioversion (to "shock" the heart) is generally not indicated in ventricular fibrillation in digitalis toxicity, as it can increase the dysrhythmia in digitalis toxicity. Also, the classic drug of choice (www.erc.edu) for VF (ventricular fibrillation) in emergency setting, amiodarone (cordarone(R)) can worsen the dysrhythmia caused by digitalis, therefore, the second choice drug Lidocaine (100mg) is to be used.^{[citation needed]} A heart block is a disease in the electrical system of the heart. ... Bradycardia, as applied to adult medicine, is defined as a resting heart rate of under 60 beats per minute, though it is seldom symptomatic until the rate drops below 50 beat/min. ... This article or section does not cite any references or sources. ... Amiodarone belongs to a class of drugs called Vaughan-Williams Class III antiarrhythmic agent. ... Lidocaine (INN) (IPA: ) or lignocaine (former BAN) (IPA: ) is a common local anesthetic and antiarrhythmic drug. ...

Use in molecular biology as digoxigenin

Digoxigenin (DIG) is a steroid found exclusively in the flowers and leaves of the plants Digitalis purpurea and Digitalis lanata. It is used as a molecular probe to detect DNA or RNA. It can easily be attached to nucleotides by chemical modifications. DIG molecules are often linked to uridine nucleotides; DIG labeled uridine (DIG-U) can then be incorporated into RNA probes via in vitro transcription. Once hybridisation occurs in situ, RNA probes with the incorporated DIG-U can be detected with anti-DIG antibodies that are conjugated to alkaline phosphatase. To reveal the hybridised transcripts, alkaline phosphatase can be reacted with a chromogen to produce a colour precipitate. chemical structure of digoxigenin Digoxigenin (DIG) is a steroid found exclusively in the flowers and leaves of the plants Digitalis purpurea and Digitalis lanata. ... Binomial name Digitalis purpurea L. Digitalis purpurea (Common Foxglove or Purple Foxglove), is a flowering plant in the family Plantaginaceae (formerly treated in the family Scrophulariaceae), native to most of Europe. ... Binomial name Digitalis lanata The Digitalis lanata (also Woolly Foxglove or Grecian Foxglove[1]) is a species of foxglove that grows in Eastern Europe. ... Uridine is a molecule (known as a nucleoside) that is formed when uracil is attached to a ribose ring (also known as a ribofuranose) via a β-N1-glycosidic bond. ... A nucleotide is an organic molecule consisting of a heterocyclic nucleobase (a purine or a pyrimidine), a pentose sugar (deoxyribose in DNA or ribose in RNA), and a phosphate or polyphosphate group. ... Uridine is a molecule (known as a nucleoside) that is formed when uracil is attached to a ribose ring (also known as a ribofuranose) via a β-N1-glycosidic bond. ... For other uses, see RNA (disambiguation). ... Hybridization is the process, discovered by Alexander Rich, of combining complementary, single-stranded nucleic acids into a single molecule. ... For other uses, see RNA (disambiguation). ... Wikipedia does not yet have an article with this exact name. ... Ball and stick model of alkaline phosphatase Alkaline phosphatase (ALP) (EC 3. ... Ball and stick model of alkaline phosphatase Alkaline phosphatase (ALP) (EC 3. ...

See also

• List of plants poisonous to equines

References

• Richard B. Silverman, The Organic Chemistry of Drug Design and Drug Action.
• Flora of Turkey. Edinburgh University Press.

A digital object identifier (or DOI) is a standard for persistently identifying a piece of intellectual property on a digital network and associating it with related data, the metadata, in a structured extensible way. ... For the chemical substances known as medicines, see medication. ... Digoxin (INN) (IPA: ) is a purified cardiac glycoside extracted from the foxglove plant, Digitalis lanata. ...

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to:

Digitalis

Look up digitalis in Wiktionary, the free dictionary.

• Flora Europaea: Digitalis species list
• Molecule of the Month - Digitalis
• eMedicine link
• Grecian Foxglove USDA Noxious Weed List.
• Purple Foxglove USDA Noxious Weed List.