Abstract

Digitalis purpurea L. is an important medicinal plant belonging to the family Scrophulariaceae and is an important source of secondary metabolites. The exclusively important digitalis purpurea L. ( Foxglove) Belongs to the family Scrophulariaceae and is distributed throughout the European continent. The phytochemical screening showed the presence of cardiac glucosides, flavonoids, anthraquinones, and also tripenes. But the most important of the phytoconstituents contributed by D.purpurea is the striking presence of numerous cardioactive glycosi6that that have proven to be the most important drugs in treating congestive heart failure. The glucosides of D. purpurea are not only considered to possess cardiac glucosides stimulant but also have wound healing, hepatoprotective, antioxidant, and cytotoxic activities. Many of them exhibit slowing ventricular rate in atrial Fibrillation, atrial flutter, supraventricular tachycardia, and premature extrasystoles. The present review is, therefore, an effort to present a detailed survey of the literature on pharmacognosy, phytochemistry, and pharmacological activities of D . Purpurea.

Keywords

Introduction

       
           
       
Antiproliferative effect  of digitoxin and digoxin  

Morphology

Digitalis purpurea is an herbaceous biennial also called a short-lived Perennial plant. The leaves of digitalis are spirally arranged, simple, 15–35 cm (4.0–13.8 in) long and 5–15 cm (2–5 in) broad, and are covered with grey-white pubescent and glandular hairs, also they have Imparted a woolly texture. Digitalis purpurea is a native European Foxglove woodland plant with spikes of tubular purple flowers with a  Spotted throat. Digitalis lanata is an erect perennial forming a rosette of Evergreen lance-shaped leaves, with cream or pale-yellow flowers 2.5cm Long, veined with brown, in a long spike in summer.

Macroscopic Characteristic:

1. Colour – Green, Dark Greyish-green
2. Odour – Slight
3. Taste – Bitter
4. Size – 10-40 cm long & 4-20 cm wide
5. Shape – Ovate-Lanceolate to broadly ovate; with irregularly crenate Or serrate or occasionally dentate margin.

Microscopic Characteristics:

       
           
       
Dorsiventral Leaf; Amniocytic Stomata; uniseriate stomata; Multicellular(3-5 cells); Bluntly Points; Glandular Trichomes; Collapsed Celled covering trichomes; Free from Calcium Oxalate and Sclerenchyma; Starch grain; collenchyma.

Traditional use:

Digitalis is used to treat heart rhythm problems (atrial arrhythmias) and  Also treat congestive Digitalis is used to treat heart rhythm problems (atrial arrhythmias) and heart failure (CHF). Digitalis also increases blood flow throughout your body and reduces swelling in your hands and  Ankles. Earlier Digitalis was used for the treatment of peptic ulcers, Headaches, boils, and paralysis Externally, digitalis species were used For the granulation of poorly healing wounds and to cure ulcers. After William Withering’s work, the digoxin is isolated from the digitalis   Species as a life-saving cardiac drug.

Chemical Constituents :

0.2-0.45% of primary and secondary glycosides, digitoxin, gitoxin, Glucogitaloxin, genotoxin, cardiac glycosides, digitoxin, digoxin,

Ouabain, oleandrin and procellariid, volatile oil, fatty matter, starch, gum

And sugars, glucodigifucoside, diacetyl lanatoside C and digoxin];

[Aglycone diginatigenin: lanatoside D, diginatin, diginatigenin

Gitaloside]; [Aglycone gitaloxigenin: lanatoside E, glucoverodoxin (0.01

To 0.14%), glucoverodoxin (0.02 to 0.12%) and gitaloxin]; [Pregnane Derivatives: including digifolein, glucodigifolein, diginin, digipronin,

Lanafolein, and gitonine]; [Steroid saponins: including lanagitosides I

And II, lignin, desglucolanatigonin, aglycones including tigogenin,

Digoxigenin, digitogenin, and gitogenin] [43].Phenylethyl glycosides,

Verodoxin.

Test for Digitalis:                                                    

1. Killer-kiliani Test for Digitoxose
2. Legal Test
3. Baljet Test

1.killer-kiliani test :-

Purpose-

Detects the presence of deoxysugars, particularly digitoxose

Reagents-

Glacial acetic acid, 0.1?rric chloride solution, concentrated sulfuric acid

Procedure-

Treat the sample with the reagents, and observe for a blue or green color

Result-

Blue or green color indicates the presence of digitoxose

2. Legal test:-

Alcoholic solution of drug sample + few drops of NaOH + 2 % solution of 3,5- dinitro benzoic acid ?appearance of pink color ? indicates the presence of cardiac glycosides.

3. Baljet test :-

Baljet’s test is a chemical test used to identify cardioactive glycosides.

The test involves:

Adding 1 mL of fraction A to a test tube

Adding 2 drops of picric acid

Making the solution alkaline with sodium hydroxide solution

The resulting color is turbid yellow to orange

Uses

Cardiovascular effects:

Cardiac glycosides possess positive inotropic effects due to the inhibition of Sodium-potassium adenosine triphosphatase, which allows calcium to Accumulate in myocytes leading to enhanced cardiac contractility. These Drugs also possess some antiarrhythmic activity but will induce Arrhythmias at higher dose levels.

Clinical data:-

Digitalis glycosides have been used clinically for the treatment of heart failure for more than 200 years and remain the source of commercial Digoxin preparations; however, a defined place in therapy remains under Debate. Reviews of the large, multicentre Digitalis Investigation Group Trial and other clinical trials have found no clear effect of digitalis on Mortality in heart failure. Some effects have been demonstrated for Secondary outcomes of decreased hospitalizations and clinical (symptomatic) deterioration.

Contraindications:

Do not allow children to come into contact with the potentially lethal Plant.

Pregnancy/Lactation:

Documented adverse cardiac reactions. Avoid use.

Interactions:

There are numerous interactions with digoxin and digitalis glycosides, Ranging from relatively minor (cimetidine, triamterene) to Life-threatening (amiodarone, furosemide, verapamil).

Adverse Reactions:

Adverse reactions are generally related to toxicity.

Toxicology:

All parts of the plant are toxic. The incidence of digitalis toxicity in Therapeutic use has been estimated to range from 5% to 25%. Ingestion Of extremely small amounts of the plant may be fatal to humans, especially children, and animals. Toxicity is cumulative.

CONCLUSION

According to all the aspects of this topic, we concluded that digitalis is a pharmacokinetically useful drug of choice for modern And traditional use. It is a costly drug but useful in anticancer therapy in A broad manner. We conclude that this review gives you better Information for your next studies and also for research and review

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