94-THEVETIA PERUVIANA (Pers.)
Local names: Yellow oleander, Piwli kanher
Family: Apocynaceae
Location: Y.B.Chavan Pharmacy building
Characters: It is an evergreen tropical shrub/small tree. Its leaves are willow-like, linear-lanceolate, and glossy green in color. They are covered in waxy coating to reduce water loss (typical of oleanders). Its stem is green turning silver/gray as it ages. Flowers bloom from summer to fall. The long funnel-shaped sometimes-fragrant yellow (less commonly apricot, sometimes white) flowers are in few-flowered terminal clusters. Its fruit is deep red-black in color encasing a large seed that bears some resemblance to a 'Chinese lucky nut.' It is effectively drought resistant and tolerant to high temperatures, hence found in various states of India like Andhra, Bihar, Delhi, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Telangana, West Bengal, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh, Odisha & Assam semi arid climate is prevalent.
General use: it is used medicinally throughout the tropics in spite of its toxicity. A bark or leaf decoction is taken to loosen the bowels, as an emetic, an effective cure for intermittent fevers. In Senegal water in which leaves and bark were macerated is taken to cure amenorrhoea. The latex is applied to soften corns & calluses. The leaf sap is used as eye drops and nose drops to cure violent headaches; the leaf sap is also dropped in the nostrils to revive people that have fainted and to cure colds. The seeds may be used as a purgative. The seed oil is applied externally in India to treat skin infections. An infusion of the roots is taken to treat snakebites. The leaves in decoction are taken to treat jaundice, fever & as a purgative for intestinal worms. The bark and seeds are used to poison rats, and also for criminal purposes. The seeds are used as an arrow or ordeal poison. In India and Sri Lanka, seeds have been used for committing suicide or homicide. The use of the seeds as an abortifacient. The wood is used to make tool handles and building poles. It is also used as fuel. The fruit pulp is sometimes eaten. The foliage is not grazed by stock, and the plants make a useful live fence. Thevetia peruviana is widely planted as an ornamental in gardens, and also as a hedge. In cooler climates it can be grown in tubs in the glasshouse and outdoors in summer. It is also planted for shade or for soil conservation. After purification, the originally poisonous seed oil is suitable for consumption. Care should be taken in all medical applications, in particular those used internally, as toxic doses are only a little higher than therapeutic ones.