Digoxin from Foxglove

Atrial fibrillation may be treated with digoxin. Digoxin from foxglove plants is a medicine given to increase the strength, or slow down the rate, of the contraction of the heart. Foxglove is a biennial plant. Upon ingestion, foxglove plant can cause toxic reactions that lead to severe sickness and death in animals and in humans. However, foxglove plants and foxglove flowers are very useful in the treatment of atrial fibrillation.

What is digoxin?

Digoxin is a drug derived from foxglove. Digoxin is a well established drug that is derived from the foxglove flower. Digoxin is often used to treat atrial fibillation. Digoxin is a drug which increases the contraction of the heart muscle which helps with treating atrial fibrillation.

Common foxglove flowers from which digoxin is derived from for the treatment of atrial fibrillation.

Using foxglove plants and foxglove flowers as drugs

Several important pharmaceutical drugs including digitalis and digoxin are derived from this plant. The chemicals from the foxglove plants and foxglove flowers increase the force of contraction of the heart muscle and are therefore used in cases of heart congestion.