Digitalis purpurea Linn, commonly known as foxglove, is a poisonous plant native to Europe and North America. It is a biennial or perennial herb that forms basal rosette leaves in its first year and an aerial stem up to 1.5 meters tall in its second year. All parts of the foxglove plant contain toxic cardiac glycosides, particularly digitoxin, which can cause nausea, irregular heartbeat, tremors and even death if ingested. Treatment for foxglove poisoning may involve activated charcoal, gastric lavage, digoxin-specific antibodies or dialysis to remove the toxins from the body.

1. POISONOUS PLANTS
Digitalis purpurea Linn.
Submitted by : Hifza Begum

2. Digitalis purpurea L.
 Synonyms: digitalis, foxglove, thimble, fairy’s
finger, fairy’s glove, lady’s glove, Folk's Glove
The term Foxglove is derived from the shape of the
flowers resembling finger of a glove. It was originally
Folksglove - the glove of the 'good folk' or fairies,
whose favorite haunts were supposed to be in places
where the Foxglove delights to grow

3. Digitalis purpurea L.
 Family: Scrophulariaceae- The Figwort Family
 Habitat: Commonly found in UK and most regions of
Europe including Italy. It is neutralized in North America

4. Digitalis purpureae L.
 Description: The foxglove is a biennial or perennial
herb. It forms rosette of leaves in first year and aerial
stem in second year almost 1-1.5m in height. It readily
grows from seeds. Commonly found in semi-shaded
areas in wild region. If certain amount of manganese is
present, flourish well in sandy areas

5. Basal rosette

7. Digitalis purpurea L.
 Fruit: Bilocular capsule containing numerous seeds
attached to axile placentae. The fruit may be equal or
longer than calyx.
 Flower: Flowers are bell-shaped exhibiting raceme
inflorescence with floral formula K(5), C(5), A4
didynamous, G(2).They are purple to pink or white
having eyespots on inner surface.

8. Cont..
 Leaves: Basal leaves are in rosettes, lanceolate to ovate
and long-petioled whereas stem leaves are alternate,
simple and sessile. Lamina is decurrent at the base,
apex subcuate. The margin is crenate or dentate and
both upper and lower surfaces are hairy.

9. Leaf

10. Cont.…
 Seeds: Seeds are brown, rectangular and are almost 1
mm long, with a network of ridges across the surface.

12. Toxic Principles
 Toxic principles: Digitalis purpureae contain many
cardio active or steroidal glycosides. The most powerful
constituent is Digitoxin which is cumulative in action.
Other physiologically active chemical constituents
found in foxglove include digitonin, digitalin, antirhinic
acid, digitalosmin, and digitoflavone.

13. Digitoxin

14. Digitalis purpureae Linn.
 Poisonous Parts: Whole plant. The flowers contain the
lowest concentration of toxins, yet their ingestion can still
result in gastrointestinal effects.

15. Digitalis purpurea L.
 Symptoms: In humans toxic reactions include gastric upset,
nausea, diarrhea, abdominal pain, severe headache, pulse
and cardiac rhythm abnormalities, mental irregularities,
drowsiness, tremors, convulsions, and death. In livestock
symptoms are similar and include bloody stools, lack of
appetite, and the urge to urinate

16. Digitalis purpurea Linn.
 Treatment: If toxicity is due to a recent one-time
exposure, treatment may involve activated charcoal
or Gastric lavage. If condition persists, specific
medications called digoxin-specific antibodies may
be used in severe cases. Dialysis may be needed to
reduce the levels of digitalis in the body.