Baby Safety / Compounds / Oleandrin

Is Oleandrin safe for babies and kids?

Severe risk for kids

Infants are highly susceptible to Oleandrin due to lower body weight, immature detoxification pathways, and dietary exposure through contaminated grains or breast milk.

What is oleandrin?

The IUPAC name is [(3S,5R,8R,9S,10S,13R,14S,16S,17R)-14-hydroxy-3-[(2R,4S,5S,6S)-5-hydroxy-4-methoxy-6-methyloxan-2-yl]oxy-10,13-dimethyl-17-(5-oxo-2H-furan-3-yl)-1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,11,12,15,16,17-tetradecahydrocyclopenta[a]phenanthren-16-yl] acetate.

Also known as: [(3S,5R,8R,9S,10S,13R,14S,16S,17R)-14-hydroxy-3-[(2R,4S,5S,6S)-5-hydroxy-4-methoxy-6-methyloxan-2-yl]oxy-10,13-dimethyl-17-(5-oxo-2H-furan-3-yl)-1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,11,12,15,16,17-tetradecahydrocyclopenta[a]phenanthren-16-yl] acetate, Foliandrin, Neriolin, Folinerin.

IUPAC name
[(3S,5R,8R,9S,10S,13R,14S,16S,17R)-14-hydroxy-3-[(2R,4S,5S,6S)-5-hydroxy-4-methoxy-6-methyloxan-2-yl]oxy-10,13-dimethyl-17-(5-oxo-2H-furan-3-yl)-1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,11,12,15,16,17-tetradecahydrocyclopenta[a]phenanthren-16-yl] acetate
CAS number
465-16-7
Molecular formula
C32H48O9
Molecular weight
576.7 g/mol
SMILES
CC1C(C(CC(O1)OC2CCC3(C(C2)CCC4C3CCC5(C4(CC(C5C6=CC(=O)OC6)OC(=O)C)O)C)C)OC)O
PubChem CID
11541511

Risk for babies

Severe risk

Infants are highly susceptible to Oleandrin due to lower body weight, immature detoxification pathways, and dietary exposure through contaminated grains or breast milk.

Neonates and infants up to 12 months have incomplete blood-brain barrier development, immature Phase I/II metabolic enzymes (particularly CYP3A4, UGT1A1), and higher gastrointestinal permeability. Equivalent doses produce higher internal concentrations and longer residence times.

What to do: Minimize infant exposure through source control. For breastfeeding mothers: reduce maternal exposure. For formula-fed infants: use certified low-migration bottles and verified water sources. Consult pediatrician regarding any concerns.

Risk for pregnant and nursing people

Context-dependent

Pregnancy alters the metabolism and distribution of Oleandrin, potentially increasing fetal exposure. The developing embryo/fetus is vulnerable during organogenesis (weeks 3-8) and neurological development. Placental transfer should be assumed.

No specific reproductive toxicity data identified, but pregnancy-specific safety data is limited for most chemicals. Precautionary minimization of exposure is recommended.

What to do: Minimize exposure during pregnancy and lactation. Consult healthcare provider regarding specific risks. Consider alternative products with lower hazard profiles.

Regulatory consensus

1 regulatory bodyhas classified Oleandrin.

AgencyYearClassificationNotes
Unknown——

Regulators apply different standards of evidence — animal-data weighting, exposure-pattern assumptions, epidemiological power thresholds — which is why two scientific bodies can review the same data and reach different conclusions. The disagreement is the data.

Where kids encounter oleandrin

  • Industrial Facilities — Manufacturing plants, Chemical storage areas, Waste treatment sites
  • Occupational Environments — Factories, Warehouses, Transportation vehicles

Safer alternatives

Lower-risk approaches that achieve a similar outcome to Oleandrin:

  • Avoidance (no chemical substitute)
    Trade-offs: Direct chemical substitution requires verification that the replacement does not introduce new hazards (regrettable substitution). Conduct full hazard assessment of proposed alternative before adoption.
    Relative cost: 1.2-2×

Frequently asked questions

Is oleandrin safe for kids?

Infants are highly susceptible to Oleandrin due to lower body weight, immature detoxification pathways, and dietary exposure through contaminated grains or breast milk.

What products contain oleandrin?

Oleandrin appears in: Manufacturing plants (Industrial facilities); Chemical storage areas (Industrial facilities); Factories (Occupational environments); Warehouses (Occupational environments).

What should I do if my child is exposed to oleandrin?

Minimize infant exposure through source control. For breastfeeding mothers: reduce maternal exposure. For formula-fed infants: use certified low-migration bottles and verified water sources. Consult pediatrician regarding any concerns.

See Oleandrin in the baby app

Look up products containing oleandrin, compare to alternatives, and explore the full data record.

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Sources (2)
  1. Galey FD et al.: Diagnosis of Oleander (Nerium oleander) Poisoning by Determination of Oleandrin in Serum and Aqueous Humor by HPLC (Journal of Veterinary Diagnostic Investigation 1996) (1996) — scientific
  2. ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center: Oleander (Nerium oleander) — Oleandrin Cardiac Glycoside Toxicity in Dogs and Cats, Clinical Cases, and Treatment with Digoxin-Specific Fab Fragments (2020) — veterinary

Reference data, not professional advice. Aggregates publicly available regulatory and scientific data; not a substitute for veterinary, medical, legal, or regulatory advice. Why we built ALETHEIA →