Thevetia Plant

Thevetia peruviana is commonly used in domestic medicine in tropical America and also in tropical Asia. However, care should be taken in all medical applications of this plant, especially where it is taken internally, since a high dosage may result in poisoning

The main medically active compounds found in the plant are a range of cardiac glycosides Of these glycosides, peruvoside has been investigated most thoroughly. It has been shown to exert a quick and powerful positive inotropic effect, comparable to that of ouabain. In therapeutic doses, peruvoside produced a fall in right atrial pressure, and a rise in the cardiac output

Special indications include cardiac insufficiency with bradycardia, latent cardiac insufficiency, insufficiency of the senile heart, and cor pulmonala chronicum. Peruvoside was also beneficial in the treatment of cardiac insufficiency subsequent to myocardial infarction.