Neem, also known as Nimba or Margosa is a powerful healing herb that can be used for diverse applications. Neem has found pride of place in the ancient texts of Ayurveda and has often been described as “sarva roga nivarini” – the wonder herb that keeps all diseases away. The roots, bark, gum, leaves, fruit, seed kernels and seed oil all find therapeutic use as internal and topical medicines. It is a well known pest control agent and has been widely used in agriculture as well. The uses of neem in cosmetic and medicinal concoctions is only too well known.
Active ingredients
Although Neem is made up of a heady combination of 4 major and 20 minor active components, it is widely believed that the active ingredient Azadirachtin accounts for up to most of the bioactivity of Neem.
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The active compounds in Neem belong to a general class of natural products called ‘Triterpenes’, or more specifically, ‘limonoids’. Although there are at least 10 limonoids in Neem the most researched of these are Azadirachtin, Salannin, Meliantriol and Nimbin.
Azadirachtin is the most significant of these. It is one of the most potent growth regulators and feeding deterrents ever tested. Meliantriol and Salannin are powerful feeding inhibitors, while Nimbin has been found to have antiviral activity. |
Azadirachtin
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Azadirachtin is a tetranortriterpenoid compound which influences the hormonal system, feeding activity, reproduction and flying ability of insects. Azadirachtin has low mammalian toxicity, it degrades rapidly in the environment, and has low side effects on non-target species and beneficial insects. Neem oil from the seeds of the neem tree contain the highest concentration of azadirachtin, meliantriol, salannin & nimbin. |
Chemical compositions
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Pesticide compositions from Neem comprise only carbon, oxygen and hydrogen and contain none of the chlorine, phosphorus, sulfur or nitrogen atoms found in synthetic chemicals.
The chemical composition of Neem resembles steroid compounds like cortisone and oral contraceptives; however, its effects on the human body are known to be subtle and do not create side effects or other complications when used. |
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