Studies on the constituents of Digitalis purpurea L. V. On the acetates of some cardiotonic glycosides.

Abstract

Stoll has recently succeeded in crystallizing purpurea glycoside-A and -B, the true glycosides of Digitalis purpurea, but crystallization of these glycosides is generally difficult. Therefore, attempts were made to derive these glycosides to crystalline acetates and feasibility of their identification through these acetates was examined. As a result, the foregoing two glycosides and gitoxin were obtained as crystalline acetates and their melting points, optical rotation, coloration reaction, and paper partition chromatography have been described, together with those of the acetates of known digitalis glycosides and various aglycone acetates. Oral administration of gitoxin acetate and purpurea glycoside-B acetate showed them to be more toxic than their respective glycosides and their lethal dose in rats was found to have been much lowered.