Dogbane

The root contains cymarin, strospeside, and K-strophanthin-β. The leaves contain rutin, catechin, anthraquinone, glutamic acid, alanine, valine, potassium chloride, etc., and also quercetin and isoquercitrin. The whole herb contains neoiso-rutin.

1. Hypotensive effect: After gastric lavage of an Apocyni Veneti Herba leaf decoction to renal-hypertensive dogs, 2 hours later blood pressure fell from 25.9/18.9 kPa to 20.3/13.3 kPa and remained stable at the lower level, recovering only after 3 days. 2. Cardiotonic effect: Cymarin contained in Apocynum venetum root increases the contraction amplitude of isolated and in situ cat hearts, slows the heart rate, then causes arrhythmia, and finally arrests the heartbeat in systole; its nature and speed of action resemble strospeside; central depressants such as sodium pentobarbital can weaken its cardiotonic effect.

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