Many plants have such beneficial elements as cardiac glycosides. They contribute to the active tone of the heart vessels and muscles. These are active substances - glycons and aglycones having a steroid structure. Not the least role is played by lactone rings in aglycones, without which cardiotonic properties lose their strength. In some plants, they are five-membered, and in such as hellebore, sea onions, and others, six-membered.
Here are plants containing cardiac glycosides :
- lily of the valley;
- jaundice;
- stanza;
- digitalis;
- Campion;
- obvolnik;
- oleander;
- kendyr.
The main substance in cardiac glycosides is aglycon.
In the pharmaceutical nomenclature, there are certain types of medicinal plants from which cardiac glycosides are made - drugs that improve the functioning of the cardiovascular system.
Cardiac glycosides. Classification
We already talked about the lactone ring, which is of considerable importance in cardiac glycocytes. These rings determine the group to which glycosides belong.
The first group is bufadienolides having a six-membered ring. This type of glycosides is found in skin secretions in toads. Only this type is used in the pharmaceutical industry. But plants containing bufadienolides, and there are about 20 of them, are not used in medical practice.
The second group contains cardenolides - glycosides, in which the five-membered lactone ring. This group is more common in medicine than bufanodienolides, and has approximately 380 compounds. If the lactone ring of a group such as cardenolides breaks up under the influence of alkali on it, then all properties that are beneficial to the heart muscles will simply cease to exist.
Cardiac glycosides. Preparations
Consider the main drugs that have a beneficial effect on cardiac activity, and containing aglycones. You should read the instructions for using drugs such as cardiac glycosides. Drugs of this kind can have an unexpected effect, for example, on the patient’s nervous system.
"Adoniside" is a medicament based on spring adonis. 1 ml of substance contains 2.7-3.5 KED. It has the appearance of a yellowish liquid. Specific smell. The taste is bitter.
"Herbion" is a drop for the heart containing aglycones. Such a medicine is stored for about three years.
“Digalen-neo” is a medicine made from rusty digitalis leaves. Improves the performance of the cardiovascular system. It has a light yellow tint, the taste of the drug is bitter. The reaction is weakly acidic.
“Digoxin” - this medicine has a unique composition of several types of digitalis, one of which is a woolly digitalis, which has a strong effect on the cardiovascular system. Digoxin is the main substance found in woolly digitalis, namely in its leaves. This glycoside has several names, for example, Lanoral or Oxydigitoxin.
“Cardiovalen” - this medication includes a complex of plants containing aclycones, such as scattered, spreading jaundice (extract), concentrated adoniside (85 LED in ml), liquid hawthorn, as well as tincture of valerian and others. The medicine is quite effective and fast-acting.
Korglikon is a medicine containing several glycosides made from lily of the valley leaves. 1 ml of the substance contains 1.8-2.2 KED. The liquid is clear, bitter.
“Lantoside” is a medicine made of 70 percent alcohol, glycosides taken from the leaves of woolly digitalis. The liquid is light green in color. The smell of alcohol. The taste is bitter. 1ml contains 1.5-1.6KED. It is prescribed for heart failure.
Strofantidine Acetate is a powerful drug that comes in powder form. It does not dissolve in water. 1 g of strofantidine acetate contains 4500-5500 KED.
“Celanide” is a genuin glycoside made from the leaves of a woolly digitalis. It has several names, such as "Isolanide" or "Lanacroist".
We learned about a group of medicines called cardiac glycosides. These drugs are very strong in their effects on the body. Do not forget that before buying a medicine, you need to consult a doctor, find out about the reaction to the drug, and also carefully study the contraindications and side effects.