Foxglove Digitalis Digitalis purpurea L

Foxglove
Digitalis
Digitalis purpurea L.
FAMILY: Scrophulariaceae

DESCRIPTION:
Biennial herb, erect to 4 ft tall. Leaves vary with species. Flowers tubular-bell shaped, spotted on inside, borne in pendant raceme, from plant stalk. Color varies from white, yellow, lavender, violet, to purple. Wild type - purple. Fruit is a small dry capsule containing many seeds.

DISTRIBUTION:
Common flowering garden plant. Common in open rich land, roadsides in northern California to British Columbia.

TOXIC PRINCIPLES :
Toxic principles are many cardiac or steriod glycosides, including digitoxin, digoxin, and gitoxin. Dry plants still toxic, flowers, seeds, leaves, and vase water toxic.

Primary mechanim is thought to be inhibition of the Na+ - K+- ATPase. Decreases intracellular K+ levels. Leads to high grade cardiac block, and increased vagal tone. Loss of pacemaker function.

TOXICITY:
In humans toxic reactions include gastric upset, nausea, diarrhea, abdominal pain, severe headache, pulse and cardiac rhythm abnormalities, mental irregularities, drowsiness, tremors, convulsions, and death. In livestock symptoms are similar and include bloody stools, lack of appetite, and the urge to urinate. . Lethality due to cardiac arrhythmias

TOXIC PARTS:
The herbage, both fresh and dried, contains powerful, highly toxic compounds.

TREATMENT
Emesis if recent exposure, in animals that can vomit. Atropine for bradycardia to prevent additional vagal stimulation during passage of endotracheal tube to establish respiration. Activated charcoal, saline cathartic, cholestyramine (for enterohepatic circulation). Administration of antidigitalis antibody fragments (Digibind). Monitor potassium levels hourly. Phenytoin to to improve AV conduction, increase heart rate, treat complete heart block. Avoid calcium containing solutions.