Foxglove

Student name: Strugariu Eisenhauer

Eduard Alex
 Introduction
– Digitalis is a genus of about 20 species of herbaceous perennials, shrubs,
and biennials commonly called foxgloves.

– Digitalis purpurea (foxglove, common foxglove, purple

foxglove or lady's glove) is a species of flowering plant in the family
Plantaginaceae, native to and widespread throughout most
of temperate Europe. It is also naturalised in parts of North America and
some other temperate regions. The plants are well known as the original
source of the heart medicine digoxin (also called digitalis or digitalin).
Species of Digitalis
 Description
– Digitalis purpurea is an herbaceous biennial or short-lived perennial
plant. The leaves are spirally arranged, simple, 10–35 cm (3.9–13.8 in)
long and 5–12 cm (2–5 in) broad, and are covered with gray-white
pubescent and glandular hairs, imparting a woolly texture. The foliage
forms a tight rosette at ground level in the first year.
– The flowering stem develops in the second year, typically 1–2 m (3.3–
6.6 ft) tall, sometimes longer. The flowers are arranged in a showy,
terminal, elongated cluster, and each flower is tubular and pendent.
The flowers are typically purple, but some plants, especially those
under cultivation, may be pink, rose, yellow, or white. The inside
surface of the flower tube is heavily spotted. The flowering period is
early summer, sometimes with additional flower stems developing
later in the season. The plant is frequented by bees, which climb right
inside the flower tube to gain the nectar within.
– The fruit is a capsule which splits open at maturity to release the
numerous tiny 0.1-0.2 mm seeds.
Cultivation
– The plant is popular as a garden subject, and
numerous cultivars have been developed with a range of
colours from white through pink to purple, such as
"Dalmatian Purple". Cultivated forms often show flowers
completely surrounding the central spike, in contrast to the
wild form, where the flowers only appear on one side. D.
purpurea is easily grown from seed or purchased as potted
plants in the spring.
 – Due to the presence of the cardiac glycoside digitoxin, the leaves, flowers and seeds
of this plant are all poisonous to humans and some animals and can be fatal if

Toxicity ingested.
– Extracted from the leaves, this same compound, whose clinical use was pioneered
by William Withering, is used as a medication for heart failure. He recognized it
"reduced dropsy", increased urine flow and had a powerful effect on the heart. Unlike
the purified pharmacological forms, extracts of this plant did not frequently cause
intoxication because they induced nausea and vomiting within minutes of ingestion,
preventing the patient from consuming more.
– The main toxins in Digitalis spp. are the two chemically similar cardiac
glycosides: digitoxin and digoxin. Like other cardiac glycosides, these toxins exert
their effects by inhibiting the ATPase activity of a complex of transmembrane
proteins that form the sodium potassium ATPase pump, (Na+/K+-ATPase). Inhibition
of the Na+/K+-ATPase in turn causes a rise not only in intracellular Na+, but also in
calcium, which in turn results in increased force of myocardial muscle contractions.
In other words, at precisely the right dosage, Digitalis toxin can cause the heart to
beat more strongly. However, digitoxin, digoxin and several other cardiac glycosides,
such as ouabain, are known to have steep dose-response curves, i.e., minute increases
in the dosage of these drugs can make the difference between an ineffective dose and
a fatal one.
– Symptoms of Digitalis poisoning include a low pulse rate, nausea, vomiting, and
uncoordinated contractions of different parts of the heart, leading to cardiac arrest
and finally death.
 First aid for foxglove poisoning
– First Aid tips for Foxglove Poisoning:
– Call 112 or your local emergency help number immediately, for emergency assistance. Provide them with information such
as the compound taken, quantity and time of ingestion, age, weight and general health status of affected individual
– Confirm that the airways are protected; also, ensure breathing and the presence of pulse
– Unless instructed by a healthcare professional, DO NOT induce vomiting in the affected individual
– Clean the mouth to remove any remaining pieces; wipe mouth with a wet cloth
– Take individual to emergency room (ER) for further treatment
– Always try to take the plant or plant product to the ER
– The emergency medical health professional might perform the following steps towards treating the condition:
– Gastric lavage for elimination of substance from the stomach (irrigation using special solutions)
– Medically manage symptoms and provide breathing support, if necessary
– Administer suitable medication to counter the effects of the toxin
– Administer activated charcoal to avoid absorbance of the substance in the body
– Administer laxatives for elimination of the substance from the body
– Administer fluids by an intravenous drip line, if necessary
 Bibliography

– www.organicfacts.net
– www.wikipedia.com
– www.dovemed.com