Convallatoxin is a natural cardiac glycoside that can be found, among others, in the plant lily of the valley (Convallaria majalis).

Convallatoxin has a similar therapeutic target and effect as digitalis, so it was used by medieval herbalists as a substitute for foxglove in treatment.

[6] Its melting point lies between 235 and 242 degrees Celsius and the compound is soluble in alcohol, acetone and slightly in chloroform, ethyl acetate and water.

[4] This showed that the compound has significant cross-reactivity with the used antibody and that it causes bidirectional interference in the digoxin assay.

It may also be possible that convallatoxin cross-reacts with the antidigoxin antibody used in other commercially available digoxin assays, but this should be investigated further.

After alkaline hydrolysis, extraction from strophanthidin residues and crystallization of isopropanol, the reaction product is liberated.

[17] If the Na+,K+-ATPase is inhibited, sodium will accumulate in the cell, preventing the sodium-calcium exchanger to work during diastole.

Thus, when stimulation of the cardiac muscle occurs, the SR releases higher levels of calcium, which increases the contractility of the myocytes.

In lung, colon and breast cancer cells, convallatoxin shows great effects at nano doses.

[13] It is not entirely clear if the induction of apoptosis and autophagy is related to the inhibitory effects of convallatoxin on the Na+, K+-ATPase pump.

[24] Convallatoxin is thus quite an efficient drug, showing effects with small doses in treatment of multiple diseases.

[29] The reduction of convallatoxin increases its polarity, thus enabling the compound to be excreted more readily.

At an increased plasma level, DLCs (including convallatoxin) toxicity symptoms include dizziness, fatigue, nausea, loss of appetite, vision disturbance, vomiting, hypertension, arrhythmia, cardiac arrest, coma, abdominal pain and convulsions, heart failure or death.

[31] About 20 μM of convallatoxin shows no toxicity and can expand the lifespan of the worm by 16.3% due to certain mechanisms, including improvement of pharyngeal pumping, locomotion, reduced lipofuscin accumulation and ROS.