Thevetia peruviana 黃花夾竹桃

Apocynaceae 夾竹桃科

Yellow Oleander1

黃花狀元竹、柳木子、酒杯花2,3

POISONOUS PARTS

Whole plant, especially the seed kernels.4,5

TOXICITY

CLINICAL MANAGEMENT

Supportive treatment. Multiple-dose activated charcoal therapy has been used for gastrointestinal decontamination in cardiac glycoside poisoning, and digoxin-specific antibody has been used as antidote.12,13

IDENTIFICATION FEATURES

Small evergreen trees, up to 6 m tall, with milky sap; bark lenticellate. Branches slender and pendulous, leaves crowding near the end of branchlets. Leaves subleathery; leaf blades 10–15 × 0.5–1.2 cm, lateral veins obscure. Flowers yellow, corolla 6–7 × 4.5–5.5 cm. Drupes 2.5–4 cm in diameter. Seeds about 2 × 3.5 cm, light grey.14

MEDICINAL USES

Highly toxic; use with caution. Uses in TCM—leaves (for external use only): remove toxin and disperse swelling; kernel extract: induce diuresis and disperse swelling, strengthen heart. Fresh kernels should not be taken internally.2,15

LABORATORY ANALYSIS

Thevetin A, thevetin B and neriifolin can be detected by LC-MS/MS.16,17