Forensic Profiling of Nerium oleander using FTIR spectroscopy

Toxic plants can be considered those plants that, when touched or consumed in a prescribed quantity, can be harmful to an organism. The botanical family Apocynaceae has various medical purposes, and they were poisonous too. And these plants were used for suicide and homicides. The various plant parts, such as leaves, flowers, stems, roots, and fruits of Nerium oleander were collected from various locations of RRU. In the current study, the powdered samples were analysed by FTIR spectroscopy. This study was conducted to understand the structural composition of these plants. The obtained spectrum revealed the functional groups in the form of bands. The spectra obtained for all samples were of distinct intensities but had the presence of similar functional groups, which were continuously repeating. And the presence of extremely poisonous ions such as cyanide, thiocyanate, and sulphur was also identified. This study can be considered reliable and helps in the identification and comparison of plant poison and in confirming the cause of death.