A poisonous cardiac glycoside compound found in digitalis plants, formerly used in medicine to strengthen heart contractions.
From digitalis (the plant genus) shortened to 'git-' plus '-toxin.' Named in the 19th century when researchers isolated it from foxglove plants used in traditional medicine.
Gitoxin is a beautiful example of 'the poison becomes the cure'—in the right dose it strengthens failing hearts, but too much kills you, which is why digitaline drugs needed careful dosing.
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