[Phytotherapeutic aspects of diseases of the circulatory system. III. Cardiotonic and cardiotoxic effects of hyrcanoside and deglucohyrcanoside isolated from Coronilla varia L].

The Cardiotonic and cardiotoxic effects of two cardiac glycosides-hyrcanoside and deglucohyrcanoside-isolated from the seeds of Coronilla varia L. were evaluated in the paper--in comparison with the effect and toxicity of digoxin and ouabain. Evaluation of the cardiotonic effect using the methods of heart "in situ" and the isolated heart (Langendorff) proved that deglucohyrcanoside is more effective than hyrcanoside and that its effect is equal to that of digoxin as well as ouabain. The efficacy of deglucohyrcanoside et least to that of digoxin, while the toxicity of the former is several times lower, makes the glycoside a potential candidate for therapeutic use.