Introduction: Nerium oleander is widely cultivated around the word, and also it is found across our country. All parts of this plant are considered toxic and can poison humans and livestock. The present study was carried out to study cardiac and neurotoxicity effects of oral administration of N. oleander extract in Wistar rat.

Materials & methods: In this study, the toxic effects of this plant were determined by measuring serum levels of the biochemical parameters including troponin and creatinine kinase (CK). Moreover, histopathological examination was performed on the vital organs including heart and brain.

Findings: CK and troponin were 6-7 and 11 times higher in comparison with control group (P<0.05), respectively. In the heart, hyperemia, hemorrhage and myofibrolysis were observed without infiltration of inflammatory cells. Pathological lesions in the brain included hyperemia associated with perivascular and perineuronal edema. Interestingly, in rats with higher toxicity doses, multifocal hemorrhage and liqufactive necrosis were seen in the brain.

Discussion & conclusions: According to results of the present study, it seems that N. oleander poisoning can induce acute cardiac toxicity and neurotoxicity which are confirmed with the present biochemical and histopathological findings.