Digitalis assay / by W. Harrison Martindale.

  • Martindale, W. Harrison (William Harrison), 1874-1933.
Date:
1913
Catalogue details

Licence: In copyright

Credit: Digitalis assay / by W. Harrison Martindale. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    10/54 (page 8)
    On this occasion he shows the constrictor effect of Gitalin (which he calls the only active substance in Digitalis Infusion) after previous dilatation with Yohimbine. The constituents of Digitalis leaves and seeds may be divided according to Robert. They both contain two groups of substances, viz., Glucosides of the Digitalin gvoup and Glucosides of the Saponin group. It has been shown that addition of a Saponin to a fine suspension of Digitoxin in water increases the action. Probably all the Digitalin group of bodies, and especially the absolutely insoluble ones in presence of Saponins, act more vigorously. The majority of Saponins and several of the Digitalin group of bodies hsemolyse blood corpuscles, but Digitsaponin (soluble) and the insoluble Gitin do not possess this property. Digitalis Infusion, Robert repeats, contains only Gitalin and Digitsaponin, no Digitoxin. Infusion of the Seeds contains Gitalin and the water-soluble Digitonin of Schmiedeberg. An Infusion of the Seeds made with Physiological Salt Solution heemolyses energetically, but the same strength or stronger leaf Infusion does not. If one extracts leaves or seeds even three times with boiling water, one does not render them inactive. The entire content of Digitoxin, Digitophyllin and Gitin remains, according to this authority, in the leaves. In th^xtracted Seeds a portion of the Digitalin and Digitonin of Riliani remain, as all these substances are when pure only very slightly soluble in water. As Leaf Infusion is therapeutically the best preparation, it follows that Gitalin is, in Robert’s opinion, an important sub- stance in therapy. It is said by him to be present in “ Digalen.” In therapy Robert advises Digitoxin to be prescribed alternately with the Infusion to get the full effect of the leaf. 0*00025 Gm. of Digitoxin represents 0*1 Gm. of leaf = 0*26 %. The following is a portion of a useful table on the latest aspect which is provided:—