Medical Definition of Cardiac glycosides
1.
Substances obtained from species of digitalis, strophanthus, and other plants that contain specific steroid glycosides or their semisynthetic derivatives and used in congestive heart failure. They increase the force of cardiac contraction without significantly affecting other parameters, but are very toxic at larger doses. Their mechanism of action usually involves inhibition of the sodium-potassium-exchanging atpase and they are often used in cell biological studies for that purpose.
Pharmacological action: anti-arrhythmia agents, cardiotonic agent, enzyme inhibitors.
(12 Dec 1998)
Lexicographical Neighbors of Cardiac Glycosides
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