Yellow Foxglove
Yellow Foxglove (Digitalis lutea)
Yellow Foxglove is a yellow-flowering herbaceous perennial in the Plantain Family. The genus name, Digitalis, means “finger,” these plants deriving their name from the tubular shape of their flowers. Yellow Foxglove, like all Digitalis species, contains potent cardiac glycosides. These are refined and used as medicines to treat cardiac conditions, but the plants themselves are very toxic. Historically, Europeans used Foxglove for several treatments, including to alleviate tuberculosis, dropsy, and epilepsy, to heal wounds, and possibly even to hide bad breath (Aronson, 1985; Kreis, 2017). Indigenous American peoples may have also used it after the plant was introduced to North America, although there is no record of what it was used for (Brooks, 1933). Along with its current use for treating certain cardiac conditions, Yellow Foxglove is also a potential source of cytotoxic (cancer-fighting) chemicals (Kreis, 2017; Kutluay, Makino, Inoue, & Saracoglu, 2019).
Historical Use
Fuchs (1542), referring to Galen, wrote of Foxglove’s ability to clean, purify, and clear intravenous blockages, as well as the lungs. He also compares it favorably to Gentian, another plant with ample glycosides used to treat cardiac and digestive issues, as well as cancer and wounds.
This passage on the virtues of Foxglove comes from De historia stirpium commentarii insigne, a book produced by Leonhart Fuchs in 1542. He is credited with assigning the name Digitalis to this genus of plants. This book, one of the most celebrated herbals from the sixteenth century, features over 500 woodcut illustrations, all hand-colored.
Latest Research
- Hyphopichia lachancei, f.a., sp. nov., a yeast species from diverse originsby Michael Brysch-Herzberg on February 23, 2020 at 11:00 am
Three strains originating from insect frass in South Africa, yellow foxglove in Hungary and soil in France, were characterised phenotypically and by sequencing of the D1/D2 domain of the large subunit and the ITS1-5.8S-ITS2 (ITS)-region of the rRNA gene. The strains have identical D1/D2 domain sequences and only one strain shows a 1 bp indel in a 9 bp homopolymer A/T repeat within the ITS-region. Based on sequence analysis Hyphopichia burtonii is the closest related species. The investigated…
- First Occurrence of Downy Mildew on Digitalis purpurea (Common Foxglove), Caused by Peronospora digitalidis, in California and the United Statesby S A Tjosvold on March 2, 2019 at 11:00 am
In California, Digitalis purpurea (common foxglove) and D. grandiflora (yellow foxglove) are grown as cutflower, potted, and landscape plant commodities. In the spring of 2002, after seasonably wet and cool weather, severe downy mildew was observed on potted common foxglove plants in commercial nurseries in coastal California (Santa Cruz County). Initial symptoms on leaves consisted of light green, rectangular areas that were vein-delimited and measured 2 to 5 × 8 to 12 mm. Such spots later…
- New knowledge about old drugs; a cardenolide type glycoside with cytotoxic effect and unusual secondary metabolites from Digitalis grandiflora Millerby Vahap Murat Kutluay on February 9, 2019 at 11:00 am
Phytochemical investigation of the aerial parts of Digitalis grandiflora Miller (Plantaginaceae) led to the isolation of an undescribed cardenolide type glycoside digigrandifloroside (1) along with five known compounds, rengyoside A (2), rengyoside B (3), cleroindicin A (4), salidroside (5), and cornoside (6), from its aqueous fraction of methanolic extract. Structures of the isolated compounds were determined by means of spectroscopic techniques. 1-6 were isolated for the first time from D….
- Mixed intoxication with Aconitum nappellans (monkshood) and Digitalis grandiflora (large yellow foxglove)by Alexander Kunz on August 5, 2010 at 10:00 am
CONCLUSIONS: FAB antibodies are a safe antidote for herbal digitalis intoxication. Therapy of choice for an aconitum poisoning is activated charcoal and intensive monitoring.
- Analysis of DNA polymorphism in a relict Uralian species, yellow foxglove (Digitalis grandiflora Mill.), using RAPD and ISSR markersby S V Boronnikova on July 19, 2007 at 10:00 am
Genetic polymorphism of the Uralian relict plant species, yellow foxglove Digitalis grandiflora Mill. (family Scrophulariaceae), was examined using RAPD and ISSR techniques. A total of 149 RAPD and 74 ISSR markers were tested. The indices characterizing polymorphism and genetic diversity were calculated. The data obtained pointed to a high level of genetic variation of D. grandiflora (P95 = 65%). The cenopopulation examined was weakly differentiated with most of genetic diversity accounted by…
References
Aronson, J. K. (1985). An account of the foxglove and its medical uses, 1785-1985. London, New York: Oxford University Press.
Brooks, H. (1933). The Medicine of the American Indian. Journal of Laboratory and Clinical Medicine, 19(1), 1-23.
Kreis, W. (2017). The Foxgloves (Digitalis) Revisited. Planta Med, 83(12/13), 962-976.
Kutluay, V. M., Makino, T., Inoue, M., & Saracoglu, I. (2019). New knowledge about old drugs; a cardenolide type glycoside with cytotoxic effect and unusual secondary metabolites from Digitalis grandiflora Miller. Fitoterapia, 134, 73-80. doi:10.1016/j.fitote.2019.02.001