Is oleander poisonous to humans?
The oleander is highly poisonous, with all parts of the plant containing a number of toxic substances, including cardiac glycosides, saponins, oleandrin, and oleondroside. Those who risk sampling the oleander will soon experience a gastrointestinal reaction, including nausea, vomiting, excessive salivation, abdominal pain, and diarrhea. The heart is affected too, and cardiac reactions include irregular heart rate, pale limbs, and coldness. The plant also affects the central nervous system, which manifests as lethargy, tremors or muscle tremors, seizures, collapse, coma, and even death.
Although the oleander is commonly planted on roadsides, or in gardens as an ornamental plant, touching the plant's sap may cause skin irritations, severe eye inflammation, and allergic reactions characterized by dermatitis, due to the same toxic substances in the plant. While the skin irritations caused by the plant will usually heal on their own, poisoning cases due to consumption require immediate medical attention. Emetic and gastric lavage can effectively reduce the absorption of the plant's toxic compounds.
Although intentionally consuming the plant is rare, those who are working with the oleander in the garden, or are simply near a plant that is growing in a public space, are at risk for skin and eye irritations.