The digitoxine or digitalin or digitoxoside is a Glycoside cardiotonic extracts from the Digitale crimson (digitalis purpurea) and from digital woolly (digitalis lanata). She was discovered by William Withering, a doctor and British botanist. Like all the glycosides cardiotonics, it is toxic. One uses it in the treatment of various affections of the Cœur like cardiac failure.

The digitoxine:

• reinforces the cardiac contraction
• slows down and
• regularizes the movements of the heart

It also has an action:

• Inotrope positive: it increases the force of contraction of the cardiac muscle
• negative Chronotrope: it decreases the heart rate
• Dromotrope negative: decrease cardiac conduction
• Bathmotrope negative: decrease abnormal exitability.
• increases the renal flow: diuretic action and reduction in the oedemas

Its properties are close to those of the Digoxine. At the cellular level, it inhibits Na/K ATPases, or Pompe sodium/potassium, which can cause a Hyperkaliémie, and to generate the clinical consequences which are attached to it.

Chemical formula

Code ATC