Cardiotonic are the drugs that give strength or energy to the activity of the heart. Cardiotonic increases the force of contraction of cardiac muscle and stimulates the overall activity of the heart. The drugs which are used as Cardiotonics are Digitalis and Arjuna.

1. PHARMACOGNOSY
CARDIOTONICS
Prepared By
Ms Shivanee Vyas
Assistant Professor
School of Pharmacy and Technology Management, NMIMS

2. • Cardiotonics are the drugs which gives strength or energy to the activity of the heart.
• The Cardiotonics increases the force of contraction of cardiac muscle and stimulate the overall activity
of the heart.
• The drugs which are used as Cardiotonics are
 Digitalis
 Arjuna
CARDIOTONICS

3. • Synonyms: Digitalis leaves, Foxglove leaves, purple foxglove, finger flower,
lady’s glove.
• Biological source: It consist of dried leaves of Digitalis Purpurea.
• Family: Scrophulariaceae.
• Geographical Source: It is produced in number of countries like: England,
France, Germany, north America, India etc.
DIGITALIS

4. • MORPHOLOGICAL CHARACTERS:
• Colour: Dark green
• Odour: Slight
• Taste: Bitter
• Size: 10 to 40cm wide
• CHEMICAL CONSTITUENTS: Digitalis contain 0.2 to 0.45% of
both primary and secondary glycosides. Primary glycosides-
Purpurea glycosides A and B, Secondary glycosides are
digitoxin, gitoxin. Primary glycosides are less stable and less
significant than secondary glycosides. Purpurea glycosides A
and B constitute the principle active constituent of the fresh
leaves.

5. • IDENTIFICATION TEST:
1. Keller-Kiliani’s Test:
Boiling about 1gm powdered drug + 10ml 70 % alcohol for 2 to 3minutes
↓
The extract is filtered
↓
To the filtrate add 5ml water + 0.5ml solution of lead acetate
↓
Shake well and separate the filtrate
↓
The clear filtrate is treated with equal volume of chloroform and evaporate to yield the extract
↓
The extractive is dissolved in glacial acetic acid
↓
After cooling, add 2 drops of ferric chloride solution
↓
Transferred the content in test tube containing 2ml conc. H2SO4
↓
A reddish brown layer is converted into bluish green colour after standing due to digitoxose

6. 2. Legal’s test:
Powdered drug dissolved in pyridine + Na nitropruside + NaOH
↓
Deep red colour
3. Kedde’s test:
Drug + (3,5 dinitrobenzoic acid) Kedde’s reagent A) + NaOH (Kedde’s reagent B)
↓
Violet colour
4. Baljet test:
Thick section of the leaf + add sodium picrate reagent
↓
If glycoside is present yellow to orange colour produces
USES:
1. Cardiotonic.
2. Used in various forms like tablets or capsules in the treatment of congestive cardiac failure, and tachycardia.
3. Diuretic in cardiac edema.

7. ARJUNA
• Synonyms: Arjun bark, arjun.
• Biological source: Arjuna consists of dried stem bark of the plant known as Terminalia arjuna.
• Family: Combretaceae
• Geographical Source: The tree is common in Indian peninsula. It is grown by the side of streams and very
common in Chotta Nagpur region.

8. • MORPHOLOGICAL CHARACTERS:
• Colour: Colour of the outer side, as well as, inner side of bark is brown
• Odour: None
• Taste: Astringent
• Shape: Flats
• Size: The pieces of various-sizes, about 15 × 10 × 1 cm
Outer surface of bark Inner surface of bark
• CHEMICAL CONSTITUENT: The dry bark from the stem contains about 20 to 24% of tannin, arjuna bark are of mixed type
consisting of both hydrolysable and condensed tannins. The tannins are reported to be present are (+) catechol, (+)
gallocatechol, epicatechol, epigallocatechol, and ellgic acid. The flavonoids such as arjunolone, arjunone, and baicalein
have been reported from the stem bark.

9. Arjunone
• IDENTIFICATION TEST
Ethereal extract of arjuna shows pinkish fluoresce under ultra-violet light.
• USES:
1. Arjuna bark is used as a diuretic and astringent.
2. It causes decrease in blood pressure and heart rate.
3. It is used in the treatment of various heart diseases in indigenous systems of medicines.
4. The bark was extensively used in the past by the local tanneries for tanning animal hides. It yields a very
firm leather of a colour which is similar babool tanned leather.