Oleandrin
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Names | |
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IUPAC name
16β-(Acetyloxy)-3β-(2,6-dideoxy-3-O-methyl-α-L-arabino-hexopyranosyloxy)-14-hydroxy-5β-card-20(22)-enolide
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Systematic IUPAC name
(1R,2S,3aS,3bR,5aR,7S,9aS,9bS,11aR)-3a-Hydroxy-7-{[(2R,4S,5S,6S)-5-hydroxy-4-methoxy-6-methyloxan-2-yl]oxy}-9a,11a-dimethyl-1-(5-oxo-2,5-dihydrofuran-3-yl)hexadecahydro-1H-cyclopenta[a]phenanthren-2-yl acetate | |
Identifiers | |
3D model (
JSmol ) |
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ChEMBL | |
ChemSpider | |
ECHA InfoCard
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100.006.693 |
PubChem CID
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UNII | |
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SMILES
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Properties | |
C32H48O9 | |
Molar mass | 576.72 g/mol |
Appearance | Oleandrin forms colourless, odourless, acicular crystals that are very bitter |
Density | 1.261 g/ml |
Melting point | 250.0 °C (482.0 °F; 523.1 K) |
Hazards | |
Occupational safety and health (OHS/OSH): | |
Main hazards
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Acute Toxicity (Oral, inhalation) |
GHS labelling: | |
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Danger | |
H300, H330, H373 | |
P260, P264, P270, P271, P284, P301+P310, P304+P340, P310, P320, P330, P403+P233, P405, P501 | |
NFPA 704 (fire diamond) | |
Lethal dose or concentration (LD, LC): | |
LD50 (median dose)
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0.248 mg/kg (Cat, Intravenous) |
Safety data sheet (SDS) | Safety Data Sheet |
Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa).
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Oleandrin is a
Oleander has been used in
Structure and reactivity
The structure of oleandrin contains a central steroid nucleus with an unsaturated lactone ring structure on C17 and a dideoxy arabinose group on C3. In addition, the steroid ring has a substitute of an acetyloxy group on C16.[2] The sugar forming the glycoside is L-oleandrose.
Oleandrin resembles very much other glycosides like
Synthesis
Oleandrin and its derivate oleandrigenin are formed in the N. oleander plant. The oleandrin itself can be won out of the leaves and other parts of the plant but can also be produced in the lab by using cell cultures. Here, the oleandrin synthesis (along with other metabolites) can be stimulated in untransformed plant cell cultures with supplementation of
Related substances
Oleandrin is, apart from its pure form, also closely related to structural similar glycosides and alkaloids, which all have more or less the same characteristics as oleandrin:[1]
- Oleandrigenin is a deglycosylated metabolite of oleandrin. It has however a more mild effect.[2]
- Conessine
- Neritaloside
- Odorside
Metabolism
Although oleandrigenin is not formed in human plasma, it was found in the volunteers injected with oleandrin, suggesting that it is formed in other human tissues.
It is excreted mostly in feces, but also in urine.[5] Because the main route of excretion is through biliary excretion into the feces, it is mainly the liver that is exposed to oleandrin.[5] As excretion in urine is only a smaller route, the kidneys are less exposed. There is also accumulation in the heart, which explains its potential for cardiac toxicity.[5]
Mechanism of action
Because of its properties as a
Apart from being a potent toxic compound, there are no results on oleandrin from human clinical research that support its use as a treatment for cancer or any disease.[1]
Toxicity
Due to its considerable toxicity, use of oleander or its constituents, such as oleandrin, is regarded as unsafe and potentially lethal.[1] Use of oleander may cause contact dermatitis, headache, nausea, lethargy, and high blood levels of potassium, with symptoms appearing within a few hours of ingestion.[1] In one fatality, the blood concentration of oleandrin and a related cardiac glycoside from the oleander plant was estimated at 20 ng/ml.[8] In practice, there have been adult cases wherein 14–20 oleander leaves (of unknown oleandrin concentration) proved not to be fatal, but also a lethal case of a child that consumed only one leaf.[9]
Symptoms
Symptoms of oleandrin poisoning can cause both gastrointestinal and cardiac effects.
Diagnosis
Diagnosis of oleandrin poisoning is mainly based on description of the plant, how much of it was ingested, time since ingestion, and symptoms.[1]
Three methods are used for detecting oleandrin in the blood.
Treatment
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Oleander toxicity should be treated aggressively, including as needed
There is a lack of evidence that weighs efficacy versus harm.[15] Activated charcoal is still used, since it binds toxins in the gastrointestinal tract to reduce absorption. It is uncertain whether repeated administration of activated charcoal is effective, in theory interrupting enterohepatic cycling. This treatment is used for digoxin poisoning, another cardiac glycoside.[16] Supportive care like monitoring vitals and electrolyte and fluid balance is important. Patients may present hypovolemic due to vomiting and diarrhea, but severely elevated potassium can also occur.[17] Electrolyte balance is vital, since patients with low cardiac glycoside levels can still die after adequate digoxin Fab antibody treatment if they have disturbed electrolyte levels.[18]
Treatment of slow heart rate and heart rhythm irregularities may require intravenous isoprenaline or atropine.[19] In moderate cases, prolonging of the PR interval and progression to AV dissociation, cardiac pacing is used.[20]
The effectiveness of all these interventions is unknown and are associated with side-effects. Therefore, consultation with a cardiologist is recommended when managing significant N. Oleander induced arrhythmias.[17] The use of anti-digoxin Fab IV has proven successful in cases of oleandrin poisoning[21]
A dose of 400 mg is used in digoxin poisoning, but a dose of 800 mg is recommended for oleandrin poisoning due to the lower binding affinity of the antibody to oleandrin.[22][23] Patients receiving an adequate dose of anti-digoxin Fab show a good response, resolving serious arrhythmias in two hours in fifty percent of the cases. Treated patients showed a rapid increase in heart rate and a significant decline in serum potassium levels.[23] The reason anti-digoxin Fab is sparingly used in developing countries is its high cost, even though it is such an effective treatment.[24]
Traditional medicine
Although oleander has been used in traditional medicine for treating various disorders, there is no evidence that it is safe or effective for any medicinal purpose.[1]
Political controversy
During the
The unproven claims of benefit further caused concern among scientists that the Trump administration might force unwarranted FDA approval of oleandrin as a safe and effective treatment for COVID-19 infection.[26][28][29] However, on 14 August 2020, the FDA rejected the application for marketing an oleandrin dietary supplement by Phoenix Biotechnology, Inc. – the manufacturer of the product – due to concerns that oleandrin would not be safe to consume.[30]
Effects on animals
Oleandrin poisoning by eating oleander leaves can be lethal at low dosages.
References
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q "Oleander". Drugs.com. 1 December 2018. Retrieved 17 August 2020.
- ^ PMID 8855150.
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- ^ a b c "Nerium oleander L.(PIM 366)". IPCS Inchem. 2005. Retrieved 2005-10-23.
- ^ Goetz, Rebecca. J.; Jordan Thomas N.; McCain, John W.; Su, Nancy Y. (1998). "Oleander". Indiana Plants Poisonous to Livestock and Pets. Cooperative Extension Service, Purdue University. Archived from the original on 2005-10-21. Retrieved 2005-10-23.
- PMID 18343781.
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- PMID 17364630.
- PMID 6963097.
- ^ S2CID 37334350.
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- ^ S2CID 2095538.
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- ^ a b Jonathan Swan (2020-08-17). "Trump eyes new unproven coronavirus "cure"". Axios. Retrieved 2020-08-17.
- ^ a b Lauren Frias (2020-08-17). "Trump reportedly pushing new unproven coronavirus treatment that is also embraced by HUD Sec. Ben Carson and MyPillow's Mike Lindell". Business Insider. Retrieved 2020-08-17.
- ^ Philip Rucker, Yasmeen Abutaleb, Josh Dawsey and Robert Costa (August 8, 2020). "The lost days of summer: How Trump fell short in containing the virus". Washington Post.
The president recently hosted Andrew Whitney, a biopharmaceuticals executive on the board of a company called Phoenix, who met in the Oval Office with Trump. Whitney, who has a limited health background, pitched Trump on a botanical extract called oleandrin as a treatment for the coronavirus, according to two senior administration officials with knowledge of the discussion. One official said Mike Lindell, a Trump booster and the chief executive of MyPillow — who stars as pitchman for his product in advertising on some of the Fox News shows Trump watches — helped arrange the meeting. Since then, Whitney has personally made overtures to senior leaders at the Food and Drug Administration, including its commissioner, Stephen Hahn, in an effort to get the agency to approve oleandrin as a treatment for the coronavirus.
{{cite news}}
: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ a b c Lev Facher (27 August 2020). "Trump has launched an all-out attack on the FDA. Will its scientific integrity survive?". STAT. Retrieved 29 August 2020.
- ^ a b Novella, Steven (19 August 2020). "Oleandra – The New COVID Snake Oil". Science Based Medicine. Retrieved 28 August 2020.
- ^ Jen Christensen; Jamie Gumbrecht (4 September 2020). "FDA rejects oleandrin, an unproven coronavirus therapeutic pushed by MyPillow CEO, as a dietary supplement ingredient". CNN. Retrieved 4 September 2020.
- S2CID 7361800.