Nerium Oleander L
Historical document, translated for reference. It reflects medical knowledge of the 1920s–30s and is not medical advice.
Summary
Nerium oleander is a plant from the Apocynaceae family growing along the Mediterranean coast. Its leaves contain glycosides and are used as a substitute for digitalis, but can cause poisoning with symptoms including nausea, vomiting, headache, and slowed pulse.
Encyclopedia entry (1928–1936)
NERIUM OLEANDER L, a plant from the family Apocynaceae, growing along the shores of the Mediterranean Sea. The leaves are used, which contain, according to Schmiedeberg, glycosides oleandrin, neriin and neriantin. According to other sources, the plant contains a glycoside identical to strophanthin. It is used (1:100) as a substitute for digitalis. In Bulgaria, it is used as a laxative and a menstrual-inducing agent. In these cases, N. o. often causes poisoning, accompanied by nausea, vomiting, headache, slowed pulse, sometimes with a fatal outcome. Another species - Nerium odorum; the root contains glycosides neriodorin and neriodorein, used externally for skin diseases, internally - for heart diseases.
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Cite this page
“Nerium Oleander L.” Soviet Medical Encyclopedia. English translation of Bolshaya Meditsinskaya Entsiklopediya, 1st ed. (Moscow, 1928–1936), ed. N. A. Semashko. https://sovietmedicalencyclopedia.pages.dev/article/nerium-oleander-l/