Tag: William withering

The cardiac drug digoxin, which has been in use for more than 200 years, is a product of the herbal remedy derived from the foxglove plant. Its use was popularized in the 18th century for treating 'dropsy,' or edema associated with heart failure, a finding that shed light on a pivotal medical application of a naturally occurring but highly potent substance. This established the foundation for understanding what drug is extracted from foxglove and its profound impact on cardiovascular medicine.

For over 200 years, the foxglove plant has been the source of lifesaving heart medications. This article explains the pharmaceutical science behind how to extract Digitalis from Foxglove, a process strictly for professionals due to the plant's high toxicity.

The cardiac drug digoxin, prescribed for heart conditions for over two centuries, is still extracted from a natural botanical source. Its complex chemistry and therapeutic potential, however, originate not from a lab, but from a specific species of the foxglove plant, answering the question: what is the natural source of digoxin?.