The Chemical Estimation of Digitalis and Strophanthus Glycosides

Abstract

Certain glycosides of plant origin possess valuable cardiotonic properties. The Families Scrophulariaceae and Apocynaceae are the plant orders which contain most members furnishing drugs of therapeutic value. If in this connection the toad poisons are included, the heart-active substances from a chemical viewpoint may be subdivided into three large groups: the digitalis-strophanthus group, the scilla-helleborus group and the nitrogenous venoms secreted by the parotid glands of toads. The chief differences between the groups are: the members of the first group are glycosides, the aglucones of which contain a five-membered lactone ring, the members of the second group are glycosides, the aglucones of which contain a six-membered lactone ring and the members of the last group are suberylarginine derivatives of acetylated hydroxylactones more closely related to the scilla group than to the digitalis group.