Vol.
III).
Nerium oleander Linn.
Family Apocynaceae.
Habitat Native to Mediterranean region; grown in Indian gardens.
English Red Oleander, Rose Bay.
Unani SurkhKaner.
Action See N. indicum.
(The white- and red-flowered varieties are equated with Nerium oleander; both possess similar properties. The yellow-flowered variety is equated with Thevetia peruviana.)
U.
438 Nervilia aragoana Gaudich.
Key application Leaf—included among unapproved herbs by German Commission E. Positively inotropic and negatively chronotropic actions have been mentioned; the use of leaf for diseases and functional disorders of the heart, as well as for skin diseases has been indicated.
The leaves and roots gave a number of active principles including glycosides, terpenoids, sterols and other compounds. Cardiac steroids, isolated from the leaf, include oleandrin, gentiobiosyl oleandrin, odoroside. The stem contained alanine arginine, aspartic acid, cysteine, glutamic acid, glycine, histidine, leucine, isoleucine, lysine, phenylalanine, proline, serine,
N threonine, tryptophan, tyrosine and valine. A polysaccharide (2.3%), containing galacturonic acid, rhamnose, arabinose and galactose has been isolated from leaves.
Neutral fraction from leaves at low doses caused marked suppression oflocomotor activity.
Aqueous extract of leaves showed significant antibacterial activity against Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The leaves also showed insecticidal activity
Nervilia aragoana Gaudich.
Synonym Pogoniaflabelhformis Lindl.
Family Orchidaceae.
Habitat Tropical Himalayas from Garhwal eastwards at altitudes of 1,200—1,500 m and in Bihar, Konkan, North Kanara and Travancore.
Ayurvedic Padmachaarini, Shankhaaluka. (Sthala Kamala is a doubtful synonym.)
Action Astringent, diuretic (used in dysuria).
A decoction of leaves is given after parturition.
