ABSTRACT
Nerium oleander is a shrub, commonly grown in gardens and public areas, belonging to the Apocynaceae family. It is distributed in many parts of the world. As per Indian traditional medicine system, N. oleander is one of the significantly important plants due to its therapeutic efficiency in different diseases globally. The major constituents of oleander plant include oleandrin, oleandrigenin and other toxic substances which have pharmacological importance. The drug which is extracted from the plant is being used as anti-diabetic, anti-bacterial, anti-cancerous anti-inflammatory, antipyretic, antioxidant, anti-cancer and anti-HIV activity. Despite its medicinal importance, it has potentially toxic effects on animals and human beings due to toxic cardiac glycosides and other compounds. The systematic position of the plant, its description, medicinal importance as per worldwide traditional medicinal system and toxic effects on the human body are provided in this review.
