Toxicity of oleander

Oleander properties

CHARACTERISTICS OF OLEANDER

oleander
Oleander flowers

Scientific noun: Nerium oleander L

Family: Apocinaceae

Habitat: Europe and Asia (Middle East) but spread in many parts of the world as an ornamental plant. It grows in calcareous, sandy places exposed to the sunshine, specially in Mediterranean brooks, which remain dry most of the year.

Active components:Cardiotonic glycosides (oldendrine) prussic acid, rutin, etc.

Active Parts: Mainly leaves. In less quantity the whole plant.

PROPERTIES OF OLEANDER

Medicinal uses of oleander

It has been used to extract oldendrine, for a medical usage a cardiotonic.

Home remedies with oleander: In home medicin it is no longer in use, save in certain African places where it is still being used a an abortive.

It was utilized in the past as a diuretic and cardiotonic.

Externally to fight scabies – a plaster of dry leaves mixed with honey- and skin diseases: eczemas, dermatities, etc,

It has been thought to be a good remedy to relieve headache in cases of cold since it produces sneezing (by sniffing the powder of ground dry leaves and flowers)

Oleander as a gardening plant

Oleander is widely used as a gardening plant because of its beatiful flowers and because it stands dryness and plagues very well. (More information)

Toxicity of oleander

Toxicity of oleander is high.

Poisoning has occurred in children when they have eaten or chewed its leaves or stems. Also, just by being in contact with this plant, dermatitis can arise in some people.

There have been some cases of intoxication by roasting meat with the branches of this plant, because its poison is not destroyed either by the contact with the air or by heat.

Symptoms of poisoning with oleander

The main simptoms are: Digestive disorders with stomachache, vomiting, fever, weak pulse and heart attack.

punto rojo More information about plants.

This article was endorsed by Elisenda Carballido - Dietitian nutritionist. Postgraduate in Phytotherapy and master in Nutrition and Metabolism.
Editorial
Written by Editorial Botanical-online team in charge of content writing

3 July, 2020

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