Digitalis officinalis
Scrophulariaceae
Form
-native to Eurpoe and North America
Culture
-well drained, rich, neutral to acidic soil
-partial shade
-pick leaves before flowering and dried for use
-propagate from seeds, needs light to germinate
-may develop crown rot and root rot in wet conditions
Foliage
-biennial, producing leaf rosette first year
-2 foot hight tomentose stem second year
Medicinal Uses:
-Cardiac effects
Conditions Treated in Modern Medicine:
-Stimulates contraction of the heart
-Reduces frequency of hearthbeats
-Lowers Oxygen requirements of the heart (in realtion to performance)
Pharmacological Substances and Properties:
-B-sequence (aglycone gitoxigenin)
-E-sequence (aglycone gitaloxigenin)
-Pegnane glycosides
-Steroid saponin
-Cardiac steroid glycosides (cardenolides)
Medicinal Parts Used:
-the dried Leaves and Ripe seeds can be ground into a powder which is prepared as a tincture in ethanol
-Note that while Foxglove used to be the primary source of cardiac glycosydes, its use as a drug is now considered obselete as similar compouds are easier to obtian from a related species of digitallis.
Banner Photo by Mathew J. Wilson