This document provides information on the Scrophulariaceae family and two genera within it: Digitalis and Verbascum. It describes their botanical origins, parts used, constituents, and medical uses. The Scrophulariaceae family includes about 275 genera and over 5,000 species of annual or perennial herbs or under-shrubs. Digitalis species such as D. purpurea and D. lanata contain cardiac glycosides like digitoxin and are used to treat heart conditions. Verbascum thapus (mullein) contains polysaccharides, iridoid glycosides, flavonoids, and saponins and is used as an expectorant, anti-inflammatory, and

1. SCROPHULARIACEA

2. • Scrophulariaceae, the figwort family, are a
family of flowering plants.
• The family name is based on the name of the
included genus Scrophularia L.
• Including about 275 genera and over 5,000
species
• HABIT:
The plants are annual or perennial herbs or
under-shrubs.

3. HABITAT:
Members of the Scrophulariaceae have a
cosmopolitan distribution, with the majority
found in temperate areas, including tropical
mountains.
• STEM:

4. • LEAVES:
Leaves are simple, alternate, opposite or
whorled exstipulate and some times exhibit
heterophylly.
• INFLORESCENCE:
Racemose (Raceme or spike) and
sometimes cymose. It can be axillary or
terminal. Flowers are solitary in some species.

5. • FLOWER:
Zygomorphic, two-lipped and some
times personate( two lips in the form of a
face ). Bisexual and Hypogynous. Bracts
and bracteoles are generally present.
• COROLLA:
5 petals, gamopetalous, often two lipped
and sometimes spurred or saccate (A bony
outgrowth or sac like). Zygomorphic and
rarely regular.

6. • CALYX:
5 sepals, gamosepalous five lobbed and
often imbricate (to overlap in a regular pattern)
• ANDROCEIUM:
4 stamens, didynamous, sometimes 2,
arching over in pairs.
• GYNAECIUM:
Bicarpillary, syncarpous, ovary superior,
bilocular. Placentation is axile.

7. • FRUIT:
Mostly capsule and sometimes berry.

8. DIGITALIS

9. • BOTANICAL ORIGION: Digitalis lanata,
Digitalis purpurea
• Common Name: Grecian foxglove, Purple
foxglove, Digitalis
• Digitalis is from Latin word-----Digitus---
Finger (Finger shaped corolla)
• Purpurea is a latin word-------purple colour

10. • Part used: Dried leaves
• Habit: Biennial herb
• Habitat: D. lanata is found in Europe,
England and India.
D. purpurea is found in England,
Germany , France, India, Mexico,
Nepal.

11. Constituents: D. purpurea
It also contains primary and
secondary glycosides. Primary glycosides
are
Purpurea glycoside A (3 digitoxose,1glucose)
Purpurea glycoside B (3digitoxose, 1 glucose)
Glucogitaloxin.(3 digitoxose, 1 glucose)
Purpurea A and B are present in fresh leaves

12. • Digitoxigenin-------Purpurea glycoside A
• Gitoxigenin-------- Purpurea glycoside B
• Gitaloxigenin------Gluco-gitaloxin
D. lanata
• Digitoxigenin-------Lanatoside A
• Gitoxigenin----------Lanatoside B
• Gitaloxigenin--------Lanatoside E
• Digoxigenin------- Lanatoside C
• Diginatigenin-------Lanatoside D

14. • and on hydrolysis by the enzyme
digipuridase yield digitoxin and glucose or
gitoxin and glucose.
D. lanata
It also contains cardiac glycosides
like lanatoside A, B, C and E. Lanatoside A
and B are acetyl derivatives purpurea A and
B. On hydrolysis Lanatoside C yields
digoxin.

15. Constituents:

16. MEDICINAL USES
D.Purpurea
Used in chronic heart failure
Also used in the treatment of internal
hemorrhages, in inflammatory diseases , in
epilepsy and other diseases.
D lanata
has cardiac effect 3to 4 times greater than
purpurea.
Commercial source of digoxin
Used in the treatment of CHF

17. VERBASCUM

18. • BOTANICAL ORIGION: Verbascum thapus
• Common Name: Mullein leaves
• Part used: Dried leaves
• Habit: Biennial herb
• Habitat: Found in Europe, Africa and Asia

19. Constituents
• Polysaccharides
• Iridoid glycosides
• Flavonoids
• Saponins
• Volatile oil

20. • MEDICINAL USES
• Demulcent, Emollient- the polysaccharide
mucilage and gums soothe irritated tissues
• Expectorant- saponins stimulate fluid
production
• Anti-inflammatory- iridoid glycosides and
flavonoids decrease inflammation
• Mild Diuretic
• Anti-viral