digitalis
/ˌdɪdʒɪˈteɪlɪs
/noun [mass noun]
A drug prepared from the dried leaves of foxgloves and containing substances (notably digoxin and digitoxin) that stimulate the heart muscle.According to the authors, the concomitant intake of those two drugs induced a drop in potassium following a diuretic induced decrease in water retention, which led to an increase in sensitivity of heart muscle to digitalis....
- In reality, more than 30% of conventional medications come from common plant sources (eg, digitalis from foxglove, vincristine from periwinkle).
- Specific classes of medications used to control and slow the heart rate include digitalis, beta blockers, and calcium channel blockers.
Origin
Late 18th century: from the modern Latin genus name of the foxglove, from digitalis (herba) '(plant) relating to the finger', from digitus 'finger, toe'; suggested by German Fingerhut 'thimble or foxglove'.