Page 11 - Pharmacognosy-I (02-06-06-102)

Microscopical characters:
The leaf is dorsiventral and the midrib projects strongly on the
lower surface.

Constituents:

Cardiac Glycosides: Purpurea Glycosides A and B

• Purpurea gly. A enzyme hyd Digitoxin + 1 mole glucose

(1 ry glycoside) (2 ry glycoside)

acid hyd

Digitoxigenin +3 moles digitoxose
(aglycone)

• Purpurea gly. B enzyme hyd Gitoxin + 1 mole glucose

(1 ry glycoside) (2 ry glycoside)

acid hyd

Gitoxigenin +3 moles digitoxose
(aglycone)

Uses:
It is used as cardiotonic and diuretic. It increases the tone of
cardiac muscle. It is used in the treatment of congestive heart
failure and auricular fibrillation.

Precautions:
- A certain percentage of patients may experience side effects
immediately upon administration of therapeutic dosages: loss of
appetite, vomiting, diarrhea and headache due to the narrow
therapeutic range of digitalis glycosides.

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