strophanthin

noun

stro·​phan·​thin strō-ˈfan(t)-thən 

: any of several glycosides (such as ouabain) or mixtures of glycosides from African plants (genera Strophanthus and Acokanthera) of the dogbane family

especially : a bitter toxic glycoside C₃₆H₅₄O₁₄ from a woody vine (Strophanthus kombé) used similarly to digitalis

Word History

Etymology

International Scientific Vocabulary, from New Latin Strophanthus, from Greek strophos twisted band (from strephein to twist) + anthos flower — more at anthology

First Known Use

circa 1873, in the meaning defined above

Medical Definition

strophanthin

noun

stro·​phan·​thin strō-ˈfan(t)-thən 

: any of several glycosides (as ouabain) or mixtures of glycosides from African plants of the genera Strophanthus and Acocanthera

especially : a bitter toxic glycoside C₃₆H₅₄O₁₄ from a woody vine of the genus Strophanthus (S. kombé) used similarly to digitalis