Ouabain is a cardiac glycoside originally isolated from certain African plants, notably Strophanthus gratus and Acokanthera ouabaio. Traditionally used as an arrow poison, it has also been studied for its therapeutic potential in treating heart failure and hypertension. Its primary action involves inhibition of the Na+/K+-ATPase enzyme, which plays a crucial role in maintaining the electrochemical gradient across cell membranes.
