Abstract

TAXONOMICAL STUDIES OF NERIUM OLEANDER (LINN.) WILD (A LATEX YIELDING PLANT)

Rakesh Kumar Verma* and Dr. Manoj Yadav

Abstract

Nerium oleander L. is an important Chinese folk medicine. It is a vegetatively propagated ornamental plant, valued for its evergreen foliage and showy terminal flower clusters that are available in different colors. Oleander is cultivated recently as a flowering pot plant and therefore abundant propagation of plant material for commercial use is of great importance. This species also produces secondary metabolites, some of which are pharmacological interests. The important pharmacological activities are anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, anticancer, antinociceptive, and CNS depressant activity. This paper explains the evidence-based information regarding the phytochemistry and pharmacological activity of this plant.

Keywords: Nerium oleander, Phytochemistry, Pharmacological activity, antinociceptive and secondary metabolites.