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]
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