Nerium oleander Cultivation in Tamil Nadu, India: An Exploratory Study

Abstract

In Indian traditional medicine, Nerium oleander is a significant medicinal herb. This plant has the potential to be fatal in many situations; poisoning cases have been documented in tropical and subtropical regions of the world, and suicide cases are common in South Asian nations, particularly in India and Sri Lanka. The plant is hazardous in all sections and contains a range of cardiac glycosides, such as gentiobiosyl, neriin, oleandrin, cardenolides, and odoroside. Additionally, this plant species produces secondary metabolites with medicinal uses, including steroids, flavonoids, and alkaloids. Antibacterial, anthelmintic, anti-inflammatory, hepatoprotective, immunopotential, anti-pyretic, antioxidant, antifungal, anticancer, and anti-HIV activity are among the significant pharmacological activities. Nerium indicum is also highly well-liked for its traditional medical applications, which include treating inflammation, wound healing, cancer, asthma, corns, heart disease, and epilepsy. Its bloom is the source of a green dye that is used to cure skin conditions, promote wound healing, and have anti-inflammatory properties. Both ultrasonic transesterification and the magnetic stirrer method have been utilized to produce biodiesel from nerium oleander oil. When administered topically, Nerium oleander's special qualities also have a notable age-defying effect. Nerium oleander to acquire several C and N compounds as well as heavy metals that are frequently produced by cars, including as Pb, Cd, Ni, and Zn. Based on the significance of nerium, the study was conducted in the Kanyakumari district of Tamil Nadu, where there is a greater area dedicated to nerium plant cultivation. The study's focus was on the factors that influence nerium cultivation, the factors that contribute to the volatility of nerium prices, and the challenges that farmers face in terms of production and marketing.