NERIUM OLEANDER: IT’S APPLICATION IN BASIC AND APPLIED SCIENCE: A REVIEW

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.