Thursday, 12 August 2021

Plants We Used to Use 8. Foxglove

Foxglove (Digitalis as it looks like a finger) extract contains a glycoside, digoxin. This chemical has a powerful effect on the cardiac muscle of animals. Although it has long had medical uses (in the treatment of the heart), digoxin is very toxic and has to be employed with great care. The plant, of course, produces the chemical to stop animals eating it.
-

No comments:

Post a Comment

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)

Sandwich Island Saga 37. Water, Water Everywhere?

The Hawaiian Islands are very dependent on aquifers for freshwater. Their current status is Very Dry. There isn't sufficient rainfall an...

  • Stepping On the Gas?
      It should hardly be called a study. A  Which comparison looked at levels of nitrogen dioxide and small particulates (PM 2.5s) in 5  Londo...
  • Gridlock in European Cities
      Europe has a city congestion problem. In 2023, London was the most gridlocked location, closely followed by Paris and Dublin. In that year...
  • Charging Electric Vehicles (For Road Use)
    It's necessary, where possible, to replace diesel and petrol-fueled vehicles by electrical equivalents. Electric vehicles (EVs) don...