AZADIRAHTA INDICA
In Swahili, the Neem tree is known by the name "Mwarobaini", which mean forty trees because it makes medicine to treat 40 different diseases. Among the treatments are an infusion from the leaf and fruit to treat eczema. An extract from the wood relieves asthma symptoms. The leaf extract is used to treat fever and the powdered root bark is applied to a toothache. The oil from the seed is applied to treat wounds, sores and cuts. Neem leaves have been prescribed to aid the digestive system, to decrease levels of glucose in the blood of diabetics and to stimulate the liver. Neem-based insecticides have been shown to be effective against over 200 different types of insects including head lice, fleas, locusts and mosquitoes.
The Neem tree is a tropical evergreen with a wide adaptability. Native to the Indian subcontinent, it has been transplanted to Africa, the Middle East, South America and Australia. Since antiquity Neem has been renowned for healing. The earliest Sanskrit medical writing referred to the benefits of its fruits, seeds, oils, leaves, roots, and bark. Each of these has long been used in the Indian Ayurveda and Unani systems of medicine. Thus for over thousands of years, million of Asians have used Neem medically.
Practitioners of the Indian Ayurveda medicine system have preparing Neem in oral doses for malarial patients for centuries. Neem’s anti-malarial activity was reported in Ayurveda books as far back as 2000 B.C. (by Charaka) and 1500 B.C. (by Sushruta). In addition, in places where the tree has been introduced in recent time, such as tropical as America and Africa, it has also established a reputation as a useful cure for various ailments. Neem leaves alone solely contain over 25 active ingredients.
In Nigeria and Haiti for example, Neem-leaf teas are used to treat malaria. Certain extracts of Neem leaf and seed have proved effective against the malarial parasite. Neem can block the development of the gamete in an infected person. This not only prevents the infected person from developing malaria but also stops the disease from spreading.
It may also be a ready source of low-cost analgesic (pain-relieving), or antipyretic (fever-reducing) compounds. It is used for these purposes everywhere it is grown. In trials, positive results have been obtained for significant analgesic, antipyretic, and anti-inflammatory effects. Some of the anti-inflammatory compounds have even been patented.
Constituents in Neem:
Its main chemical broadside is a mixture of 3 or 4 related compounds, and it backs these up with 20 or so others that are minor but nonetheless active in one way or another. In the main, these compounds belong to a general class of natural products called "triterpenes"; more specifically, "limonoids."
Limonoids
So far, at least nine neem limonoids have demonstrated an ability to block
insect growth, affecting a range of species that includes some of the most
deadly pests of agriculture and human health. New limonoids are still being
discovered in neem, but azadirachtin, salannin, meliantriol, and nimbin are the
best known and, for now at least, seem to be the most significant.
Azadirachtin
Azadirachtin is structurally similar to insect hormones called "ecdysones,"
which control the process of metamorphosis as the insects pass from larva to
pupa to adult. It affects the corpus cardiacum, an organ similar to the human
pituitary, which controls the secretion of hormones. Metamorphosis requires the
careful synchrony of many hormones and other physiological changes to be
successful, and azadirachtin seems to be an "ecdysone blocker." It blocks the
insect's production and release of these vital hormones. Insects then will not
molt. This of course breaks their life cycle.
Gellantriol
Another feeding inhibitor, meliantriol, is able, in extremely low
concentrations, to cause insects to cease eating. The demonstration of its
ability to prevent locusts chewing on crops was the first scientific proof for
neem's traditional use for insect control on India's crops.
Salannin
Studies indicate that this compound also powerfully inhibits feeding, but does
not influence insect molts.
Nimbin and Nimbidin
Two more neem components, nimbin and nimbidin, have been found to have antiviral
activity.
The most analyzed compounds are as follows:
· Nimbin - anti-inflammatory, anti-pyretic,
antihistamine, anti-fungal
· Nimbidin - anti-bacterial, anti-ulcer, analgesic, anti-arrhythmic, anti-fungal
· nimbidol - anti-tubercular, anti-protozoan, anti-pyretic
· gedunin - vasodilator, anti-malaria, anti-fungal
· Sodium nimbinate - diuretic, spermicide, anti-arthritic
· queceretin - anti-protozoal
· salannin - repellent
· Azadirachtin - repellent, anti-feedant, anti-hormonal
Uses Of Neem:
AIDS:
Neem contains immune modulating polysaccharide compounds; the polysaccharide may
be responsible for increasing antibody production. Other elements of neem may
stimulate immune function by enhancing cellular mediated response. This dual
action can help the body ward off the frequent infections that generally
accompany AIDS.
Arthritis:
The phenolic compounds containing catechin (which possess anti-inflammatory
properties) may produce the anti-inflammatory effects. Another investigation
found that quercetin, an antibacterial compound, exists in neem leaves. Other
studies have shown that the polysaccharides in neem reduce the inflammation and
swelling that occur in arthritis. Not only does neem help reduce inflammation;
it also has pain suppressing properties. Neem can also help create a balance in
the immune system, directly affecting the progression of arthritis.
Birth Control:
Neem has been shown to be a powerful, relatively inexpensive birth control agent
for both men and women. Using neem as a vaginal contraceptive inhibits the
spread of micro-organisms including Candida albicans, Tropicalis, Niesseria
gonorrhoeae, herpes simplex-2 and HIV-1, as well as resistant strains of
E. coli, and Staphylococcus aureus, in part by boosting immune-system activity
in the vagina. Neem initially stimulates TH1 cells and macrophases, then causes
an elevation of both immunoreactive and bioactive TNF-alpha and gamma-interferon
in serum and mesenteric lymph nodes.
Cancer:
It has been found that polysaccharides and liminoids in neem bark, leaves and
seed oil reduced tumors and cancers and were effective against lymphocytic
leukemia. Neem’s success has been noticeably remarkable with skin cancers. A
number of reports have been made by patients that their skin cancers have
disappeared after several months of using a neem-based cream on a daily basis.
Injections of neem extract around various tumors have shown sizable reduction in
a few weeks’ time. Neem leaf extract significantly alters cancer development at
extrahepatic sites by influencing hepatic biotransformation enzymes and
antioxidants.
Dental Care:
Neem twigs contain antiseptic ingredients necessary for dental hygiene. Neem
powder is also used to brush teeth and massage gums. Neem extracts prevent tooth
decay and periodontal disease.
Diabetes:
Because neem is a tonic and a revitalizer, it works effectively in the treatment
of diabetes, as well.
Heart Disease:
Major causes of a heart attack include blood clots, high cholesterol, arrhythmic
heart action and high blood pressure. Neem has been helpful in these conditions
too. Its leaf extracts have reduced clotting, lowered blood pressure and bad
cholesterol, slowed rapid or abnormally high heartbeat and inhibited irregular
heart rhythms. Some compounds may produce effects similar to mild sedatives,
which reduce anxiety and other emotional or physical states that may prompt a
heart attack. The antihistamine effects of the nimbidin in its leaves cause
blood vessels to dilate. This may be why the leaves help reduce blood pressure.
Malaria:
Both water and alcohol based neem leaf extracts have been confirmed as
effective. It has been shown to block the development of the gamete in an
infected person. Neem leaf extract greatly increases the state of oxidation in
red blood cells, which prevents normal development of the malaria virus. Irodin
A, an active ingredient in the leaves, is toxic to resistant strains of
malarias; 100 percent of the malaria gamete are dead within seventy-two hours
with a 1 to 20,000 ratio of active ingredients. Gedunin and quercetin, compounds
found in the leaves, are also effective against malaria.
Rheumatism:
Neem leaves have anti-inflammatory activity, similar to that in drugs such as
phenyl butazone and cortisone. They can relieve pain and reduce acute pain
edema.
Stress:
The explanation of neem’s antianxiety effect may be its ability to increase the
amount of serotonin in the brain. Because it works well in small amounts, it
could be safer than drugs currently used for stress, which may cause many side
effects.
Gastro-intestinal Problems:
In the Ayurvedic medical tradition, neem is considered a useful therapy for
ulcers and gastric discomfort. Compounds in neem have been proven to have
antiulcerative effects. Peptic ulcers and duodenal ulcers are treated well with
neem leaf extracts; nimbidin from seed extracts taken orally prevents duodenal
lesions and peptic ulcers, and provides significant reductions in acid output
and gastric fluid activity.
Vitiligo:
Vitiligo is believed to be an autoimmune disorder that causes patches of skin to lose their color. It occurs in about five percent of the human population regardless of race, but most commonly in dark-skinned people. The two most common treatments are exposure to sunlight (or PUVA) or corticoster old drugs, but these are not always effective. Other studies showed that the internal use of neem leaves and bark were effective even without the cream. It may be possible that neem oil applied to the affected areas could aid in the reversal of discoloration.
Chagas Disease:
Extracts of neem reportedly affect the kissing bugs that transmit the
much-feared Chagas' disease. They do not kill the insect; instead they
"immunize" it against parasites that live inside it for part of their life
cycle. Neem leaf extracts have negative effects on these pernicious insects.
Feeding neem or more specifically a single dose of Azadirachtin to the bugs not
only eliminate the parasites, but the Azadirachtin prevents the young from
molting and the adults from reproducing. Neem leaf or seed extracts may also be
sprayed throughout the home where the kissing bug lives; this eliminates the
parasites and prevents the bugs from laying eggs.
Skin Diseases:
Neem has been highly successfully against harmful fungi, parasites, and viruses.
Although it can destroy these, it does not kill off beneficial intestinal flora
nor produce adverse side effects. Neem is toxic to several fungi that attack
humans, including the causes of athlete’s foot and ringworm and candida, which
cause yeast infections and thrush. In fact, neem extracts are some of the most
powerful Antifungal plant extracts found in the Indian pharmacopia that are used
for these conditions. The compounds gedunin and nimbidol, found in the tree’s
leaves, control the fungi listed above.
Fungicides:
Neem has proved effective against certain fungi that infect the human body. Such
fungi are an increasing problem and have been difficult to control by synthetic
fungicides. For example, in one laboratory study, neem preparations showed
toxicity to cultures of 14 common fungi, including members of the following
genera:
Trichophyton- an "athlete's foot" fungus that
infects hair, skin, and nails;
Epidermophyton- a "ringworm" that invades both skin and nails of the feet;
Microsporum- a ringworm that invades hair, skin, and (rarely) nails;
Trichosporon- a fungus of the intestinal tract;
Geotrichum- a yeastlike fungus that causes infections of the bronchi, lungs, and
mucous membranes; and
Candida-a yeastlike fungus that is part of the normal mucous flora but can get
out of control, leading to lesions in mouth (thrush), vagina, skin, hands, and
lungs.
Antibacterials:
In trials neem oil has suppressed several species of pathogenic bacteria,
including:
Staphylococcus aureus. A common source of food poisoning and many pus-forming
disorders (for example, boils and abscesses), this bacterium also causes
secondary infections in peritonitis, cystitis, and meningitis. Many strains are
now resistant to penicillin and other antibiotics, one reason for the widespread
occurrence of staphylococcal infections in hospitals.
Salmonella typhosa. This much-feared bacterium, which lives in food and water, causes typhoid, food poisoning, and a variety of infections that include blood poisoning and intestinal inflammation. Current antibiotics are of only uncertain help in treating it. However, neem has many limitations as an antibiotic. In the latter test, neem showed no antibacterial activity against certain strains of the above bacteria, and none against Citrobacter, Escherichia coli, Enterobacter, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Proteus mirabilis, Proteus morgasi, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Pseudomonas, and Streptococcus faecalis.
Viral Diseases:
In India, neem is also used to treat viral diseases such as small-pox,
chicken-pox
.
Immunity Booster:
The fact that neem affects the cell-mediated immune system is particularly
important to most people. Led by "Killer T" cells, the cell-mediated immune
system is the body's first defense against infection. Killer T-cells are able to
destroy microbes, viruses and cancer cells by injecting toxic chemicals into the
invaders. Neem also boosts the body's macrophage response, which stimulates the
lymphocytic system, and boosts production of white blood cells. Neem oil acts as
a non-specific immunostimulant and that it selectively activates the
cell-mediated immune mechanisms to elicit an enhanced response to subsequent
mitogenic or antigenic challenges.
Insecticide:
Neem products are unique in that (at least for most insects) they are not
outright killers. Instead, they alter an insect's behavior or life processes in
ways that can be extremely subtle. Eventually, however, the insect can no longer
feed or breed or metamorphose, and can cause no further damage.
Mosquito - Toxic to larvae. The larvae of a number of mosquito species (including Aedes and Anopheles) are sensitive to neem. They stop feeding and die within 24 hours after treatment. If neem derivatives are used alone, relatively high concentrations are required to obtain high mortality. Nonetheless, the use of simple and cheap neem products seems promising for treating pools and ponds in the towns and villages of developing countries. In one test, crushed neem seeds thrown into pools proved nearly as effective at preventing mosquito breeding as methoprene, a rather expensive pesticide that is usually imported in developing countries.
Antiseptic:
The seeds and leaves contain compounds with demonstrated antiseptic, antiviral, and antifungal activity. There are also hints that neem has anti-inflammatory, hypotensive, and anti-ulcer effects. There is a potential indirect benefit to health as well. Neem leaves contain an ingredient that disrupts the fungi that produce aflatoxin on moldy peanuts, corn, and other foods-it leaves the fungi alive, but switches off their ability to produce aflatoxin, the most powerful carcinogen known.
Fuel:
Neem produces several useful fuels. As mentioned above, its oil is burned in
lamps throughout India. In addition, its wood has long been used for firewood.
Moreover, the husk from the seeds containing no oil and representing the bulk of
the wastage in pesticide manufacture is mainly employed as fuel. Charcoal made
from this neem wood is of excellent quality, with a calorific value only
slightly below that of coal.
Neem Leaf :
Ingredients: Pure Certified Organic neem leaf, (no stems or bark) made up of 20
percent fibre, 50 percent carbohydrates, 15 percent proteins, 5 percent fat, 8
percent ash, 2 percent calcium and contains essential amino acids. There are
reports that neem leaf also contains carotene and ascorbic acid. Neem leaves are
now known to contain nimbin, nimbinene desacetylnimbinase, nimbandial, nimbolide
and quercentin.
The fine neem powder can be used to make tincture, teas or used as a bitter
spice on foods. For external use, the powder can be incorporated into cosmetics,
face masks or herbal preparations.
Neem Bark:
The bark of the neem tree is considered equal to the leaf in healing properties
in the Ayurvedic system. It is generally known for its marvelous powers of
preventing and healing gum diseases and other dental problems. The bark is now
known to possess large numbers of catechins and powerful immunomodulatory and
immuno stimulating compounds.The bark has been found to contain 3.43% protein,
0.68% alkaloids and 4.16% minerals.
Neem Oil:
The neem seed kernel is very rich in fatty acids, often up to 50 percent of the
kernel's weight. Neem seed oil is very bitter with a garlic/sulfur smell and
contains vitamin E and other essential amino acids. Studies of the various
components of the oil have found the percentages of the following fatty acids:
Oleic acid - 52.8%, stearic acid - 21.4%, palmitic acid - 12.6%, linoleic acid -
2.1% and various lower fatty acids - 2.3%.
References
Indian Journal of Experimental Biology, 1998 Nov; 36(11): 1151-3
Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 2002 Feb; 79 (2): 273-8
American Journal of Reproductive Immunology, 1997 Jun; 37(6): 485-91
Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 1997 Jan; 55(2): 133-9
International Journal of Immunopharmacology, 1992 Oct; 14(7): 1187-93
Neem: A Tree for Solving Global Problems, Report of an Ad Hoc Panel of the Board of Science and Technology for International Development, National Research Council, National Academy of Sciences, Washington, D.C. 1992.
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