PDR for Herbal Medicines

HERBAL MONOGRAPHS OLEANDER/555

Oleander

Nerium oleander

DESCRIPTION

£ Medicinal Parts: The leaves are the medicinal part of the

plant.

Flower and Fruit: The corolla is 4 to 7 mm in diameter,

usually pink to red but sometimes white. The petals are

thickly covered in glands. The tube is 2 cm long as are the

obtuse and patent lobes. The anther appendages are long,

pubescent and twisted. The follicles are 8 to 16 cm by 0.5 to

1 cm, erect and reddish-brown.

Leaves, Stem and Root: The evergreen plant can be tree or

shrub-like. The trunks are up to 4 m high. The leaves are 6 to

12 by 1.2 to 2 cm, linear-lanceolate, sharp-edged, coriaceous,

dark green.

Habitat: Nerium oleanJer grows mainly in the Mediterrane-

an region but also in parts of Asia. It is cultivated in Europe.

Production: Oleander leaf is the leaf of Nerium oleander,

collected shortly before flowering and then dried in the

^ shade.

Other Names: Rose Laurel

ACTIONS AND PHARMACOLOGY

COMPOUNDS

Cardiac steroids (cardenolide): chief components are 16-

acetyl neogistonin, adynerin, 5alpha-adynerin, gentiobiosyl-

adynerin, delta 16-dehydroadynerin, digitoxigenin olean-

droside, gentibioosyl-odoroside A, gentiobiosyl-oleandrin,

glucosyl^leandrin, oleandrigenin glucoside, kaneroside, ne-

riaside, nerigoside^jieriumoside

Pregnanes and pregnane glycosides: including 12beta-hy-

droxy-16alpha-metfioxy-pregna-4,6-dien-3,20-dione

EFFECTS

Oleander is positively inotropic and negatively chronotropic.

The cardenolide glycosides of the drug are qualitatively

digitoxin-like in their action, but generally weaker, probably

due to the lower rate of absorption.

£ INDICATIONS AND USAGE
Unproven Uses: Folk medicine uses of Oleander leaf include
diseases and functional disorders of the heart, as well as skin
diseases. Previous internal application for myocardial insuf-
ficiency, decompensated hypertonia and cardiac insufficien-
cy is no longer common.

Indian Medicine: Among uses in Indian medicine are

scabies, eye diseases (using only the juice of the leaves) and

hemorrhoids.

PRECAUTIONS AND ADVERSE REACTIONS

General: No health hazards are known in conjunction with

the proper administration of designated therapeutic dosages.

Side effects can include, particularly in the case of overdos-

ages, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, headache, stupor and

cardiac arrhythmias.

Drug Interactions: The simultaneous administration of the

drug with quinidine, calcium salts, saluretics, laxatives or

glucocorticoids increases both efficacy and side effects. For

symptoms of an acute poisoning and therapy see Digitalis.

The scientific literature (Lewin) contains numerous descrip-

tions of fatalities.

OVERDOSAGE

See PRECAUTIONS and ADVERSE REACTIONS.

DOSAGE

How Supplied: Forms of commercial pharmaceutical prepa-

rations include solutions, coated tablets and compound

preparations.

Dosage: No information is available.

Storage: Oleander should be stored where it is protected

from dampness and light.

LITERATURE

Loew D, Phytotherapie bei Herzinsuffizienz. In: ZPT 18(2):92-

96. 
    
    
    
    1997. Loew DA, Loew AD, Pharmakokinetik von herzglykosidhaltigen
          Pflanzenextrakten. In: ZPT 15(4): 197-202. 1994.
          Siddiqui S et al., Isolation and structure of two cardiac
          glycosides from the leaves of Nerium oleander. In: PH
          26(1):237-241. 1985.
          Yamauchi T et al.. Quantitative variations m the cardiac
          glycosides of oleander. In: PH 22:2211-2214. 4983.
          Further information in:
          Frohne D, Pfander HJ, Giftpflanzen - Ein Handbuch fur
          Apotheker, Toxikologen und Biologen, 4. Aufl., Wiss. Verlags-
          Ges. Stuttgart 1997.
          Kern W, List PH, Hoihammer L (Hrsg.), Hagers Handbuch der
          Pharmazeutischen Praxis, 4. Aufl., Bde. 1-8, Springer Verlag
          Berlin, Heidelberg, New York, 1969.
          Lewin L, Gifte und Vergiftungen, 6. Aufl., Nachdruck, Haug
          Verlag, Heidelberg 1992.
          Madaus G, Lehrbuch der Biologischen Arzneimittel, Bde 1-3,
          Nachdruck, Georg Olms Verlag Hildesheim 1979.
          Roth L, Daunderer M, Kormann K: Giftpflanzen, Pflanzengifte,
    
    
    
    


97. Aufl., Ecomed Fachverlag Landsberg Lech 1993.
    Schulz R, Hansel R, Rationale Phytotherapie, Springer Verlag
    Heidelberg 1996.
    Steinegger E, Hansel R, Pharmakognosie, 5. Aufl., Springer
    Verlag Heidelberg 1992.