Images in Clinical Medicine

Kim Eagle, M.D., Editor

Digitalis purpurea (Foxglove)

J. Lawrence Naiman, M.D.

N Engl J Med 1994; 331:1563December 8, 1994

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Figure 1 Digitalis purpurea (Foxglove).

In 1775 William Withering demonstrated that the leaves of the foxglove plant alleviated certain forms of dropsy (edema), and in 1799 John Ferriar ascribed their beneficial effects to a primary action on the heart. All physicians have learned about digitalis, but few recognize its plant source. Digoxin, the preparation most commonly used in the United States, is derived from related plants, Digitalis lanata and D. orientalis.

Kim Eagle, M.D.

J. Lawrence Naiman, M.D.
Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94303

Citing Articles (1)

Citing Articles

1. 1

   Lepreau, Frank J., . (1995) Foxglove. New England Journal of Medicine 332:20, 1386-1386
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