Dr. Buhara Yücesan

Visiting Scientist, Department of Horticultural Science, NCSU
Abant Izzet Baysal University, Faculty of Natural & Agricultural Sciences
Dept. of Seed Science and Technology, 14030 Bolu, TURKEY

The Genus Digitalis (Foxgloves): Biotechnological Approaches
On Cardiac Glycoside Production, Conservation and Taxonomy

The genus Digitalis L. containing species, commonly known as the
“foxglove”, is the main source of cardenolides, which have various
pharmacological properties effective against certain pathological
conditions including myocardial infarction, arterial hypertension,
cardiac dysfunction, angina, and hypertrophy. Togehter with a prime
effect of controlling the heart rhythm, many workers demonstrated that
lanatoside C and some other cardiac glycosides are effective in
several cancer treatments such as prostate and breast cancers.
Phytochemical studies on cardenolides, naturally occurring plant
secondary metabolites, have mainly focused on the species of the genus
Digitalis L., as the members of this family have a high level and
diverse content of cardenolides. During the last few decades, plant
tissue culture techniques have been optimised for many plant species
including Digitalis, however, the production capacity of cardenolides
somehow failed to reach a commercially desired extent. In this
resentation, the genus Digitalis is evaluated in terms of its main
botanical and physiological features, traditional uses, molecular
genetics and metabolomics, cellular mechanism of action, medicinal
uses, clinical pharmacology, drug interactions, therapy in the
management of cardiovascular disorders, potential utility of therapy
in extracardiac conditions, and toxicity.

[button]View Seminar Abstract[/button]