Abstract
Nerium oleander is an important medicinal plant in Indian folk medicine. It is a potentially lethal plant in many cases and poisoning is reported in tropical and subtropical parts of the world as well as a number of suicidal cases are also prevalent in South Asian countries, especially in India and Sri Lanka. All parts of the plant are toxic and contain a variety of cardiac glycosides which includes neriin, oleandrin, cardenolides, gentiobiosyl and odoroside. This plant species also produce secondary metabolites such as alkaloids, flavonoids and steroids which have pharmacological applications. The important pharmacological activities are antibacterial, anthelmintic, anti-inflammatory, hepatoprotective, immunopotential, anti-pyretic, antioxidant, antifungal, anticancer and anti-HIV activity. This review describes the evidence-based information regarding pharmacological activity as well as phytochemicals of this plant.
Highlights
Nerium oleander is an evergreen shrub in the dogbane family Apocynaceae
The plant has shown the toxicologic importance for accidents when used in folk medicines, in homicides or suicides [2]
All parts of the oleander plant contain cardiac glycosides, including the roots and the smoke produced from burning, as heat does not inactivate the glycosides. This plant is known by many names throughout the world which includes Adelfa, Baladre, Cascabela thevetia, Cerbera thevetia, Common Oleander, Exile Tree, Huang Hua Jia, Jia Zhu Tao, Kaner, Karvir, Karvira, Laurel Rosa, Laurier-Rose, Laurier Rose, Laurose, Nérier à Feuilles de Laurier, Nérion, Nerium indicum, Nerium Oleander, Nerium odorum, Oleander blatter, Oleandre, Oleandri folium, Rose Bay, Rose Laurel, Sweet Scented Oleander, Thevetia neriifolia, Thevetia peruviana, Yellow Oleander
Summary
Nerium oleander is an evergreen shrub in the dogbane family Apocynaceae (fig. 1). It is the only species currently classified in the genus Nerium. Nerium oleander has historically been considered a poisonous plant because some of its compounds exhibit toxic effect, especially to animals, when consumed in high amounts. The whole plant has anticancer properties and its use in the treatment of cancer and found that the flowers, leaves, leaf juice or latex, bark and roots have been used against corns, warts, cancerous ulcers, carcinoma, ulcerating or hard tumours [12].
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