Foxglove Purple.

Foxglove Purple: A Healing Plant Used in Medicine

Digitalis purpurea (Digitalis purpurea) is a biennial herbaceous plant of the Norica family, which is widely cultivated in the North Caucasus as an ornamental plant and for the needs of the pharmaceutical industry. In the wild, other types of foxgloves are found in Russia, such as rusty, large-flowered, woolly, ciliated, etc.

Foxglove Purple grows to a height of 100-120 cm, and its stem, gray hairy and unbranched, is simple. In the first year of the plant’s life, it grows only large oval basal leaves on long petioles. The leaves are alternate, unevenly septate along the edges, the blade is wrinkled, and reticulate venation is visible on the lower surface. The leaves are dark green above, grayish-green below, and short pubescent. In the 2nd year, the leaf shape changes and becomes oblong-ovate, pointed, up to 25 cm long.

Foxglove Purple blooms in June-July. The flowers are large, decorative, collected at the top in a one-sided raceme. The corolla of the flower is sphenoletal, has the appearance of a thimble with a slightly protruding lower lip. They are purple on the outside and white on the inside with purple dots and four stamens. Ovary superior. The fruit is a two-locular capsule with numerous small seeds. Ripens in August.

The leaves of Foxglove Purpurova contain glycosides, which, due to their unique cardiac stimulating effect, are called “cardiac”, and purpureoglycosides A and B - the so-called primary, or genoin, glycosides, which, when dried, stored and processed, are converted into secondary substances - digitoxin and gitoxin. In addition, saponins, flavonoids, choline, caffeic and other acids were found in the raw materials.

Initially, the healing properties of foxglove have been known since the 11th century. Medieval pharmacopoeias in England, France and Germany indicated its decongestant, antiemetic and laxative properties. However, due to deaths, the plant disappeared from medicinal practice for a long time. In 1785, the English physician Withering, basing his theory on heart failure, again drew attention to digitalis and isolated active substances from it - glycosides. Subsequently, digitalis became widely used for the treatment of heart diseases, especially atrial fibrillation, atrial fibrillation, and chronic heart failure.

However, it must be remembered that foxglove is a strong poison and its improper use can lead to serious consequences, including poisoning and death. Therefore, before using digitalis for medicinal purposes, you must consult your doctor and strictly follow the dosage and recommendations.