A review on therapeutic potential of Digitalis purpura L. in perspective of Unani medicine

Abstract

Digitalis purpurea L. (foxglove) is an important medicinal plant belonging to the Scrophulariaceae family. It is native to northern Africa (i.e., Morocco) and Europe (i.e. Denmark, France, Portugal, Norway, Sweden, the UK, Germany, Italy, and Spain). Its leaves have cardio-tonic, diuretic, sedative, hemostatic, antipyretic properties etc., and are used for the treatment of left ventricular hypertrophy of the heart, palpitations, ascites, epistaxis, hemoptysis, menorrhagia, epilepsy, pneumonia, chronic pleurisy, wounds, and burns. A variety of phytoconstituents are isolated from Digitalis, which include glycosides, saponins, flavonoids, organic acids, tannins, mucilage etc. Various pharmacological studies on the plant have been done, like cardiovascular, hepatoprotective, antidiabetic, insecticidal, antioxidant, etc. The aim of the paper is to highlight the therapeutic applications as described in Unani literature and scientific studies done on Digitalis purpurea.