Digitalis purpurea
Foxglove
Digitalis purpurea, commonly known as foxglove, is a striking biennial herb renowned for its bell-shaped, purple flowers. While aesthetically beautiful, it contains potent cardiac glycosides like digoxin. These compounds are vital in treating heart failure but are highly toxic, requiring precise medicinal application to avoid life-threatening effects.
- Scientific name: Digitalis purpurea
- Family: Plantaginaceae
- Native range: Europe
Taxonomical Classification
This plant, Digitalis purpurea, belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta. Within the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae, it is classified under the order Lamiales. Finally, it is a member of the family Plantaginae within the genus Digitalis.
| Rank | Classification | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Kingdom | Plantae | WCVP |
| Phylum | Streptophyta | WCVP |
| Class | Equisetopsida | WCVP |
| Subclass | Magnoliidae | WCVP |
| Order | Lamiales | WCVP |
| Family | Plantaginaceae | WCVP |
| Genus | Digitalis | WCVP |
Common Names
This plant, known scientifically as Digitalis purpurea, is recognized by various common names across different languages and cultures. In Polish, it is referred to as naparstnica purpurowa, while in Basque, it is called kuku-praka. Its name in Hebrew is אצבעונית ארגמנית, and in Hungarian, it is known as piros gyűszűvirág. Additionally, in Galician, the plant is called dedaleira.| Language | Common Name | Source |
|---|---|---|
| pl | Naparstnica purpurowa | Wikidata |
| eu | Kuku-praka | Wikidata |
| he | אצבעונית ארגמנית | Wikidata |
| hu | piros gyűszűvirág | Wikidata |
| gl | Dedaleira | Wikidata |
| et | verev sõrmkübar | Wikidata |
| de | Roter Fingerhut | Wikidata |
| sq | Luletogëza e purpurtë | Wikidata |
| hsb | Čerwjeny naporst | Wikidata |
| ar | قمعية أرجوانية | Wikidata |
Distribution
This plant exhibits a wide presence across several key regions in Northern Europe. Its range specifically includes the coastal and inland areas of Denmark. Furthermore, it is commonly found throughout the landscapes of Great Britain and Ireland. In the northernmost stretches, the species is also well-established within Sweden. Finally, its distribution extends into Middle Europe, where it can be located in Austria.
| Region | Area | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Northern Europe | Denmark | WCVP |
| Northern Europe | Great Britain | WCVP |
| Northern Europe | Ireland | WCVP |
| Northern Europe | Sweden | WCVP |
| Middle Europe | Austria | WCVP |
| Middle Europe | Belgium | WCVP |
| Middle Europe | Czechia-Slovakia | WCVP |
| Middle Europe | Germany | WCVP |
| Middle Europe | Hungary | WCVP |
| Middle Europe | Netherlands | WCVP |
Plant Parts
This plant, commonly known as foxglove, utilizes its various components for both reproduction and the production of potent cardiac glycosides. The most significant medicinal part is the leaves, which contain the active compounds used in treating heart conditions, though they must be handled with extreme caution due to their high toxicity. For the continuation of its life cycle, the plant produces numerous tiny seeds within elongated capsules, which are dispersed to ensure the growth of new generations in suitable habitats.- Total parts
- 2
- Scientific sources
- 3
| Plant Part | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| leaves | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| seeds | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Chemicals
Digitalis purpurea has 27 reported phytochemicals identified across 43 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include digitoxin, digoxin, cardiac glycoside, cardiac glycosides, digitalis.
- Total chemicals
- 27
- Scientific sources
- 43
Most Reported Compounds
| Compound | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| digitoxin | 6 | ★★★☆☆ |
| digoxin | 5 | ★★★☆☆ |
| cardiac glycoside | 3 | ★★☆☆☆ |
| cardiac glycosides | 3 | ★★☆☆☆ |
| digitalis | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| gitaloxin | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| gitoxin | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| 1-naphthaleneacetic acid | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Glycosides | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| MPB | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Activities
Digitalis purpurea has 1 reported activities identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Cardiotonic.
- Total activities
- 1
- Scientific sources
- 1
Most Reported Activities
| Activity | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| Cardiotonic | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Medicinal Uses
Digitalis purpurea has 22 reported medicinal uses identified across 32 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include congestive heart failure, heart failure, atrial fibrillation, dropsy, tumor.
- Total uses
- 22
- Scientific sources
- 32
Most Reported Uses
| Use | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| congestive heart failure | 5 | ★★★☆☆ |
| heart failure | 4 | ★★☆☆☆ |
| atrial fibrillation | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| dropsy | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| tumor | 2 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Dropsy | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| atrial flutter | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| bradyarrhythmia | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| cancer | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| cardiac arrhythmias | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |