Digitoxin

2 definitions found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  digitoxin \dig`i*tox"in\ (d[i^]j`[i^]*t[o^]k"s[i^]n), n. (Chem.)
     A steroid glycoside, one of the cardiotonic chemical
     substances which is extracted from the foxglove. It is a
     white, crystalline substance ({C41H64O13}), and is a
     3-substituted triglucoside of a steroid, related structurally
     to digitalin and digoxin. It is used as a cardiotonic for


     treatment of certain heart conditions, such as congestive
     heart failure. Chemically it is
  
     (3[beta],5[beta])-3-[(O-2,6-Dideoxy-[beta]-D-ribo-hexopyranosyl-(1[rarr]4)-O-2,6-dideoxy-[beta]-D-ribo-hexopyranosyl-(1[rarr]4)-2,
     6-dideoxy-[beta]-D-ribo-hexopyranosyl)oxy]-14-hydroxy-card-20(22)-enolide.
     The related compounds {digitalin} and {digoxin} are also
     extracted from the foxglove ({Digitalis lanata} and
     {Digitalis purpurea}). The class of steroid glycosides having
     cardiotonic properties are refered to as the cardiac
     glycoside group. --MI11
     [PJC]

From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:

  digitoxin
       n : digitalis preparation used to treat congestive heart failure
           or cardiac arrhythmia