Cerbera Odollam
Definition
The yellow oleander or 'suicide tree', a Kerala coastal tree whose seed contains cardiac glycosides (cerberin, thevetin). Dominant in Kannur and Kasaragod districts; cases used historically for both suicide and homicide because the taste is masked by jaggery and the post-mortem signs mimic cardiac arrest.
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Explained in
- Poisoning Trends and Patterns in IndiaThe yellow oleander or 'suicide tree', a Kerala coastal tree whose seed contains cardiac glycosides (cerberin, thevetin). Dominant in Kannur and Kasaragod dist...