Cymarin (Cym)

Cymarin is a cardiac glycoside.  Cymarin is a cardiac glycoside and an anti-arrhythmia and cardiotonic agent. In 33 healthy male volunteers, given a single oral and intravenous dose of cymarin (k-strophanthin-alpha), k-strophanthoside (k-strophanthin-gamma) and ouabain (g-strophanthin), enteral absorption and renal excretion of these glycosides and their metabolites were investigated by radioimmunoassay and HPLC. Cymarin was absorbed at 47% of the given dose. After intravenous injection 46% and after oral administration 21% of the given dose, i.e. the total amount as detected by radioimmunoassay which consisted of the unchanged glycoside and its metabolites, were excreted by the kidneys mainly as conjugated metabolites. Ouabain was absorbed after oral administration to a minimum of 1.4%. Given intravenously a total renal excretion of 33% of the given dose with a half-life of elimination of 23 h was measured.