Oleandrin has anticarcinogenic, anti-inflammatory, and growth-modulatory effects , which may thus be partially ascribed to the inhibition of activation of NF-κB and AP-1 and potentiation of apoptosis; it has stronger anti-proliferative activity in undifferentiated CaCO-2 cells (IC50, 8.25 nM) , causes an autophagic cell death and altered ERK phosphorylation in undifferentiated.Oleandrin inhibits the Na+, K+-ATPase activity with an IC50 of 620 nM. Oleandrin is a steroid saponin that consists of oleandrigenin having a 2,6-dideoxy-3-O-methyl-alpha-L-arabino-hexopyranosyl residue attached to the oxygen function at position 3. It is a 14beta-hydroxy steroid, a cardenolide glycoside, a steroid ester and a steroid saponin. It is functionally related to an oleandrigenin.

Periplocin has anti-cancer, and potent immunoregulatory effects, it induces apoptosis and inhibits growth of cancer cells by the beta-catenin/Tcf signaling pathway. Periplocin is used for treatment of rheumatoid arthritis, reinforcement of bones and tendons, palpitations or shortness of breath and lower extremity edema in traditional medicine.

Oleaside A is a natural product from Nerium oleander.

Marinobufagenin is a cardiotonic steroid secreted by the toad Bufo rubescens and other related species such as Bufo marinus. An endogenous Na/K-ATPase inhibitor, it is a vasoconstrictor with effects similar to digitalis. It has a role as an epitope and an EC 3.6.3.9 (Na(+)/K(+)-transporting ATPase) inhibitor. It is an epoxy steroid and a steroid hormone. It is functionally related to a (5beta)-bufadienolide.