Thevetia peruviana Pers. K.Schum synonym Thevetia neriifolia A.Juss commonly known as
Yellow Oleander is a potential multipurpose oil crop for bioenergy, feeds, vegetable oil and
pharmaceuticals production suitable for arid to semi-arid regions (ASAL’s) and marginal
agricultural lands of sub Saharan regions of Africa.
The seed kernels yield over 60% of pale yellow fixed oil, about 30% of crude proteins and about
10% of biologically active principles from the seed kernels. The n=hexane solvent extracted seed
oil is pure oil, free from the bioactive principles and can be used for edible purposes as cooking
oil and used in animal feed formulation. The mechanically extracted crude oil contains traces of
the cardiac glycosides and can be used as an alternative feedstock for hydrotreated esterified
fatty acids (HEFA) for sustainable aviation fuels (SAF), biodiesel production(FATTY Acid
Methyl Esters (FAME) and other industrial co-products.. The defatted and purified seed cake
can be used in animal feeds formulation, purified for human consumption and or used as in
organic fertilizer as nitrogen source.
The biologically active compounds which includes steroidal glycosides, flavonoid glycosides
and quinones has potential for manufacture of cardiotonic drugs-peruvoside, anti-microbial, anti
protozoan and pesticide agents. The plant is drought tolerant, requires minimal inputs during
cultivation, resistant to many pests and diseases and ideal for plantation in arid to semi-arid
lands, (ASAL’s).
The husked by products can be used as fuel in heating boilers at factory level or converted to
paper and wood products.
The fruit pericarp biomass contains sugars which can be used for bio alcohol production, which
can also enter the alcohol to Jetfuel conversion pathways