(Pharmacology) a white toxic bitter-tasting glycoside, extracted from the leaves of the purple foxglove (Digitalis purpurea) and used in the treatment of heart failure and some abnormal heart rhythms. Formula: C41H64O13
What does it do: Pheasant's Eye contains strophanthin, and the glucoside adonidin, which is ten times more potent than digitoxin. The plant is a cardiac tonic, stimulant and diuretic.
Venkatadri et al., "Digitoxin and its synthetic analog MonoD have potent antiproliferative effects on lung cancer cells and potentiate the effects of hydroxyurea and paclitaxel," Oncology Reports, vol.
Herbal medicine has made many contributions to commercial drug preparations manufactured today including ephedrine from Ephedra sinica, digitoxin from Digitalis purpurea, salicin (the source of aspirin) from Salix alba and reserpine from Rauwolfia serpentina.
Several significant modern drugs such as digitoxin reserpine tubocurarine ephedrine ergometrine atropine vinblastine and aspirin had their origins in traditional folk medicines [2 9].
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