Nerium odorum

MARYAM JAMILAH BINTI ABDUL HAMID

082013100002

IMS BANGALORE

Learning Outcome

• Common names

• Characteristic of Nerium odorum

• Action of Nerium odorum

• Lethal dose & lethal period

Family & NamesFolk remedies

Family: Apocynaceae

Scientific name: Nerium odorum

Common names:

– Nerium oleander

– Common oleander

– Pink oleander, white oleander

– Rose laurel

– Kaner

Characteristics

• Large ornamental shrub

• Grows up to 2-6 metres

• Spreading to erect branches

• Leaves– Narrow lanceolate

(5-20 cm by 1-3.5 cm)

– Pairs or whorls of three

– Thick and leathery

– Dark green

• Flowers

– White or pink

– Clusters at end of

each branch

– Deeply 5-lobed

corolla

– Sweetly scented

• Fruit

– Long narrow

capsule 5-20 cm

long

– Split open at

maturity to

release

numerous downy

seeds

ActionAll part are poisonous particularly stem, seeds

and root

Active principles (cardiac glycosides):

oleandrin, neriin, folinerin, rosagenin

Action:

Systemic: cause cardiac congestion

Local: abortion

Lethal dose

• 5-15 leaves

• 15-20 g of root

• 20-36 hours

Lethal period

Conclusion

Topics covered are:-

• Common names

• Characteristic of Nerium odorum

• Action of Nerium odorum

• Lethal dose & lethal period

References

• Textbook of Forensic Medicine & Toxicology,

V V Pillay, 15th edition

• The Essentials of Forensic Medicine &

Toxicology, K.S.N. Reddy, 27th edition