Grey Wallflower

Medicinal Parts; the plant's radish

Constituents

Cardioactive steroid glycosides (cardenolids, 1 to 3%); chief component erysimoside (primary glycoside, aglycone k-strophanthidin, 0.6%)

Helveticoside (secondary glycosides)

Canescine

Cheirotoxin

Erycanoside

Effects

It contains cardioactive glycosides of the cardenolide type with k-strophantidin as the aglycone. It is, accordingly, positively inotropic and negatively chronotropic in its effect.

Uses

In the past it was used for cardia insufficiency (NYHA 1 and 2), but can no longer be recommended.

Cautions

No health hazards are known in conjunction with the proper administration of designated therapeutic dosages.

Although poisonings among humans are both unknown and unlikely, due to the difficulties accompanying resorption of the glycosides, the possibility of a poisoning resulting from either high dosages or its glycosides through peroral administration is not to be completely ruled out.