Cardiotonics (Greek Kardia-heart) are the drugs which give strength or energy to the activity of the heart. The cardiotonics increase the force of contraction of cardiac muscles and stimulate the overall activity of the heart Examples- dititalis, squill, thevetia, strophantus, arjuna bark

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@maharudra rakh

2. A SEMINAR ON
A SEMINAR ON
“Cardiotonics”
Presented byPresented by
MAHARUDRA S. RAKH
MAHARUDRA S. RAKH
M. PHARM ., M.B.A
M. PHARM ., M.B.A
E- mail: rmspharma@gmail.com
PHARMACOGNOSY
PHARMACOGNOSY
First yearFirst year

3. Cardiotoni
cs
Cardiotonics (Greek Kardia-heart) are the
drugs which give strength or energy to the
activity of the heart.
The cardiotonics increase the force of
contraction of cardiac muscles and
stimulate the overall activity of the heart
Examples- dititalis, squill, thevetia,
strophantus, arjuna bark
rmspharma@gmail.com @maharudra rakh

4. DIGITALIS
Synonyms:- Digitalis leaves, Foxglove leaves.
Biological Source:- Digitalis consists of dried
leaves of Digitalis purpurea,
Family Scrophulariaceae
GeographicaI Source:
in England, other parts of Europe, United States
and India
Cultivation and Collection:
biennial or perennial herb of about 1 to 2 meters.
propagated by seeds
calcarious, acidic sandy, light soil with traces of
manganese.
altitude of 1600 to 3000 m.
temperature range 20 - 30°C and rainfall 30-40
cm per annum.
plantation is done twice a year.
The leaved are picked up in the afternoon
dried leaves (containing not more than 5% of
moisture) packed into the air-tight containers
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5. Macroscopic Characters:
Colour - Dark greyish-green
Odour – Slight
Taste – Bitter
Size - 10 to 40 cm long and 4 to 20 cm wide
Shape - Ovate-lanceolate to broadly ovate;
Microscopic Characters:
anomocytic stomata on both surfaces
trichomes are uniseriate, multicellular (3 to 5 cells) also glandular
trichomes, free of calcium
oxalate and sclerenchyma.
Starch grains in the endodermis.
collenchyma at 3 different places i.e. at the upper epidermis, lower
epidermis, and pericyclic part
Chemical Constituents:
Digitalis contains 0.2 to 0.45% mixture of both
primary & secondary cardiac glycoside (cardenolides)
Purpurea glycosides A and B and
glucogitaloxin, gitaloxin, verodoxin, and glucovero.
Other chemicals- digitoxin, gitoxin and gitaloxin
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6. Chemical Tests
Keller-killani test for digitoxose :
1gm digitalis powder+ 10 ml, 70% alcohol (for 2 to 3 minutes)---
boil---filtrate+
5ml water and 0.5 ml strong lead acetate solution ------shake---
filtrate+
chloroform & evaporated ---- extractive+ glacial acetic acid +
2 drops ferric chloride solution +
2 ml concentrated sulphuric acid------ reddish brown layer
acquiring bluish-green colour
Legal test: The extract is dissolved in pyridine, sodium
nitroprusside solution is added to it
and made alkaline-pink or red colour is produced.
Bat jet test: To a section of digitalis, sodium picrate solution is
added.
It shows yellow to orange colour.
Use:- in the treatment of congestive heart failure
Dose:- Initial dose - 1 - 2 g in 24 - 48 hours .
Adulterants:
The leaves of Verbascum thapsus (Scrophulariaceae)
The primrose leaves : The leaves of Primula vulgaris
(Primulaceae)
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7. ARJUNA
Synonym:
Arjun bark, Arjun
Biological Source:
Arjuna consists of dried stem bark of the plant
known as Terminalia arjuna Rob, belonging to
family Combretaceae
Geographical Source :
in Indian (Chotta-Nagpur region, M.P.)
Cultivation and Collection :
-naturally growing plant in the dense forests
-wild growing plants
- seeds germination in 21 days
-fertile loam and rainfall in range of 75 to
190 cm
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8. Macroscopic Characters :
Colour - greyish-brown
Odour - None
Taste - Astringent
Shape - Flats
Chemical constituents:
-contains 15% of tannins
-also contains triterpenoid saponin, arjunolic
acid, arjunic acid, arjunogenin. sitosterol, ellagic
acid, and arjunic acid, flavonoids, calcium,
aluminium and magnesium salts
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9. Chemical test:
Ether extract shows pinkish fluorescence
under UV light
Uses :
as cardiotonic. antidysenteric. diuretic and
tonic properties. hypotensive action
Adulterants :
Terminalia tomentosa
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