Cardiac glycosides in traditional Chinese medicine

Summary

The effect of cardiac glycosides containing medicinal herbs, e.g. Ting Li Zi (Descurainia sophia), against heart failure was detected by traditional Chinese doctors at the beginning of the first century, more than 16 centuries before Withering’s discovery of digitalis to promote diuresis. We ran infer the diagnosis from the description of the symptom complex, for which the herb as the main constituent of related formulas was prescribed. Cardiac glycosides were successfully isolated lately fromSemen Descurainiae by Chinese chemists.

Ting Li Zi was also recommended for hastening child delivery and to treat edema, amenorrhoea, insanity and, presumably, malignant growth by the traditional medical literature. The common mechanism of these actions may be the inhibition of Na-K-ATPase by the cardiac glycosides contained. The narrow therapeutic range restricts its widespread usage and makes the supply of standardized dosageforms necessary.