Thevetia peruviana (Pers.) K. Schum.: Poisonous and its potential

Thevetia peruviana is a poisonous plant but also has potential as a medicine. This study aims to explain the botany, toxicity and bioactivity of T. peruviana. The research method is through a literature study on articles, books published online, especially on Google Scholar, using the keywords T. peruviana, T. peruviana toxicity and T. peruviana bioactivity. In Indonesia, T. peruviana is easy to find in the surrounding environment such as yards, yards, and roadsides, which are used as ornamental plants because they have beautiful flower colors and structures. All parts of T. peruviana are toxic because they contain various cardiac glycosides including neriifolin, thevetin A, thevetin B, and oleandrin, so consuming any of these parts can result in death in both animals and humans. Clinical-pathological features of T. peruviana poisoning include vomiting, diarrhea, drowsiness and dilated pupils, rapid, weak and irregular pulse. Although T. peruviana is a poisonous plant, several studies have reported the bioactivity of T. peruviana as anti-cancer, fertility, abortion and antimicrobial, but the processing and use need strict control so that its toxicity is minimized.