Digitalis purpurea

Digitalis purpurea
    n 1: tall leafy European biennial or perennial having
         spectacular clusters of large tubular pink-purple flowers;
         leaves yield drug digitalis and are poisonous to livestock
         [syn: {common foxglove}, {fairy bell}, {fingerflower},
         {finger-flower}, {fingerroot}, {finger-root}, {Digitalis
         purpurea}]
    

Foxglove \Fox"glove`\, n. [AS. foxes-gl[=o]fa,
   foxes-cl[=o]fa,foxes-clife.] (Bot.)
   Any plant of the genus {Digitalis}. The common English
   foxglove ({Digitalis purpurea}) is a handsome perennial or
   biennial plant, whose leaves are used as a powerful medicine,
   both as a sedative and diuretic. See {Digitalis}.
   [1913 Webster]

         Pan through the pastures oftentimes hath run
         To pluck the speckled foxgloves from their stem. --W.
                                                  Browne.
   [1913 Webster]
    

digitalin \dig"i*ta`lin\, n. [Cf. F. digitaline.]
      (a) (Medicine, Pharmacy) Any one of several extracts of
          foxglove ({Digitalis}), as the "French extract," the
          "German extract," etc., which differ among themselves
          in composition and properties. Both {Digitalis lanata}
          and {Digitalis purpurea} have been used to prepare
          such extracts.
      (b) (Chem.) the distinctive chemical substance, a steroid
          glycoside, which is the essential ingredient of the
          extracts of foxglove. It is a white, crystalline
          substance ({C36H56O14}), and is a 3-substituted
          diglucoside of a steroid. It is a powerful cardiac
          stimulant and is used as a cardiotonic for treatment
          of certain heart conditions, such as congestive heart
          failure. Chemically it is

          (3[beta],5[beta],16[beta])-3-[6-Deoxy-4-O-[beta]-D-glucopyranosyl-3-O-methyl-[beta]-D-galactopyranosyl)oxy]-14,16-dihyroxy-card-20
          (22)-enolide. The related compounds {digitoxin} and
          {digoxin} are also extracted from the foxglove. The
          class of steroid glycosides having cardiotonic
          properties are refered to as the cardiac glycosides.
          --MI11

   Syn: digitalinum verum, Diginorgin, Schmiedeberg's digitalin,
        digitalis, digitalis glycoside. [1913 Webster +PJC]
    

Digitalis \Dig`i*ta"lis\, n. [NL.: cf. F. digitale. So named
   (according to Linn[ae]us) from its finger-shaped corolla.]
   1. (Bot.) A genus of plants of the family
      {Schrophulariaceae}, including the foxglove.
      [1913 Webster]

   2. (Med.) The dried leaves of the purple foxglove ({Digitalis
      purpurea}), formerly used in heart disease, disturbance of
      the circulation, etc. Its use has been largely replaced by
      that of the pure active ingredient, {digitalin}. See
      {digitalin}.
      [1913 Webster]
    

digitoxin \dig`i*tox"in\ (d[i^]j`[i^]*t[o^]k"s[i^]n), n. (Chem.)
   A steroid glycoside, one of the cardiotonic chemical
   substances which is extracted from the foxglove. It is a
   white, crystalline substance ({C41H64O13}), and is a
   3-substituted triglucoside of a steroid, related structurally
   to digitalin and digoxin. It is used as a cardiotonic for
   treatment of certain heart conditions, such as congestive
   heart failure. Chemically it is

   (3[beta],5[beta])-3-[(O-2,6-Dideoxy-[beta]-D-ribo-hexopyranosyl-(1[rarr]4)-O-2,6-dideoxy-[beta]-D-ribo-hexopyranosyl-(1[rarr]4)-2,
   6-dideoxy-[beta]-D-ribo-hexopyranosyl)oxy]-14-hydroxy-card-20(22)-enolide.
   The related compounds {digitalin} and {digoxin} are also
   extracted from the foxglove ({Digitalis lanata} and
   {Digitalis purpurea}). The class of steroid glycosides having
   cardiotonic properties are refered to as the cardiac
   glycoside group. --MI11
   [PJC]
    

digoxin \di*gox"in\, n. (Chem.)
   a steroid glycoside, one of the cardiotonic chemical
   substances which is extracted from the foxglove. It is a
   white, crystalline substance ({C41H64O14}), and is a
   3-substituted triglucoside of a steroid, related structurally
   to digitalin and digitoxin. It is used as a cardiotonic for
   treatment of certain heart conditions, such as congestive
   heart failure. Chemically it is

   (3[beta],5[beta],12[beta])-3-[(O-2,6-Dideoxy-[beta]-D-ribo-hexopyranosyl-(1->4)-O-2,6-dideoxy-[beta]-D-ribo-hexopyranosyl-(1->4)-2
,  6-dideoxy-[beta]-D-ribo-hexopyranosyl)oxy]-12,14-dihydroxy-card-20(22)-enolide.
   The related compounds {digitalin} and {digoxin} are also
   extracted from the foxglove ({Digitalis lanata} and
   {Digitalis purpurea}). The class of steroid glycosides having
   cardiotonic properties are refered to as the cardiac
   glycosides. --MI11
   [PJC]
    

fingerroot \fingerroot\ n.
   tall leafy European biennial or perennial ({Digitalis
   purpurea}) having spectacular clusters of large tubular
   pink-purple flowers; -- its leaves yield the drug digitalis
   and are poisonous to livestock.

   Syn: common foxglove, fairy bell, fingerflower, {Digitalis
        purpurea}.
        [WordNet 1.5]