Digitalis, cardiotonic properties

The glycosides present in squill have digitalislike cardiotonic properties, which are due to their aglycones (goodman and oilman). Action is more rapid, but shorter in duration, than that of digitalis glycosides. ° ... 

The cardiac glycosides found in plants and animals and the bufadienohde esters, hke bufotahn, have a bitter taste and a high toxicity, properties which may repel potential predators (E 5.1 and E 5.5.3). Several cardiac glycosides, e.g., digitoxin, digoxin, and lanatoside C made by Digitalis lanata (Table 39), are used as cardiotonics in medicine (F 2). 

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