Bufadienolide is a chemical compound with

steroid A steroid is a biologically active organic compound with four rings arranged in a specific molecular configuration. Steroids have two principal biological functions: as important components of cell membranes that alter membrane fluidity; and ...

structure. Its derivatives are collectively known as bufadienolides, including many in the form of bufadienolide glycosides (bufadienolides that contain structural groups derived from sugars). These are a type of cardiac glycoside, the other being the

cardenolide A cardenolide is a type of steroid. Many plants contain derivatives, collectively known as cardenolides, including many in the form of cardenolide glycosides (cardenolides that contain structural groups derived from sugars). Cardenolide glycosid ...

glycosides. Both bufadienolides and their glycosides are toxic; specifically, they can cause an atrioventricular block, bradycardia (slow heartbeat),

ventricular tachycardia Ventricular tachycardia (V-tach or VT) is a fast heart rate arising from the lower chambers of the heart. Although a few seconds of VT may not result in permanent problems, longer periods are dangerous; and multiple episodes over a short perio ...

(a type of rapid heartbeat), and possibly lethal cardiac arrest.

Etymology

The term derives from the toad genus '' Bufo'' that contains bufadienolide glycosides, the suffix ''-adien-'' that refers to the two double bonds in the lactone ring, and the ending ''-olide'' that denotes the

lactone Lactones are cyclic carboxylic esters, containing a 1-oxacycloalkan-2-one structure (), or analogues having unsaturation or heteroatoms replacing one or more carbon atoms of the ring. Lactones are formed by intramolecular esterification of the co ...

structure. Consequently, related structures with only one double bond are called ''bufenolides'', and the saturated equivalent is ''bufanolide''. Bufanolide structure

Classification

According to MeSH, bufadienolides and bufanolides are classified as follows: * Polycyclic compounds **

Steroid A steroid is a biologically active organic compound with four rings arranged in a specific molecular configuration. Steroids have two principal biological functions: as important components of cell membranes that alter membrane fluidity; and ...

s *** Cardanolides **** Cardiac glycosides *****Bufanolides (includes bufenolides, bufadienolides, bufatrienolides) ****** Proscillaridin ****** Daigremontianin *****

Cardenolide A cardenolide is a type of steroid. Many plants contain derivatives, collectively known as cardenolides, including many in the form of cardenolide glycosides (cardenolides that contain structural groups derived from sugars). Cardenolide glycosid ...

Etymology

Classification

References

Further reading