c36h56o14

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]