Digitoxigenin

/ˌdɪdʒɪtɒksɪˈdʒɛnɪn/ noun

Definition

A chemical compound extracted from digitalis plants that is used as a starting material for manufacturing cardiac glycoside medicines.

Etymology

From 'digitoxin' (a heart drug) + '-genin' (chemical suffix meaning 'producer'). Identified in the early 20th century as chemists broke down digitoxin into its component parts.

Kelly Says

Digitoxigenin is one of nature's most potent cardiac weapons—just 0.1 grams can profoundly affect your heartbeat, which is why digitalis poisoning from eating a single foxglove leaf can be fatal!

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