[Considerations about study on mechanisms of acupuncture underlying efficacy-enhancement and toxicity-attenuation of digitalis drugs for heart failure].

Digitalis glycosides, a group of cardiotonic agents for heart failure, have been used for a long time, but may often trigger arrhythmias as a result of digitalis intoxication. It is of great significance in finding a method to reduce their toxicity and improve clinical curative effects simultaneously in the application of digitalis glycosides. It has been well documented that acupuncture has good therapeutic effects in improving cardiac function and inhibiting arrhythmia induced by myocardial ischemia. Acupuncture combined with chemotherapeutics can reduce the adverse effects of chemotherapeutics. Accordingly, acupuncture combined with digitalis is likely to reduce the side effects of digitalis by regulating intracellular Ca2+, improving the function of Ca(2+)-ATPase in the sarcoplasmic reticulum, increasing calcium sensitivity of cardiac troponin, etc. These considerations may provide a novel clue for treatment of heart failure by joint administration of acupuncture and drugs.

La digital: planta con relevancia en la medicina / Digital: plant with relevance in medicine

Se presentan aspectos históricos, fitoquímicos, farmacológicos, toxicológicos y referentes a la utilidad medicinal de Digitalis spp., género con gran valor ornamental y comercial, sobre todo para elaborar purpureaglucósidos, digitoxina y gitoxina, compuestos utilizado en el tratamiento de enfermedades cardiacas. Digitalis purpurea fue utilizada desde el siglo XI y experimentada científicamente por W. Whitering en 1785, Inglaterra. Se le cultiva en Europa y en Estados Unidos de América del Norte, al igual que otras especies como Digitalis lanata Ehrh. y Digitalis lutea L.; actualmente son objeto de numerosos estudios y cultivos in vitro