Neem

Neem can grow into a big tree to a height of about 20 to 35 m. Its canopy of leaves makes it a useful shade tree.Medium-sized tree growing to 15 meters high, with wide spreading branches formiing an oval crown. Leaves are pinnately compound. The drooping leaflets are 1 cm long, paired, lanceolate, acuminate with serrated margins. The blade is shiny dark green on the upper surface and pale green on the underside. Flowers are numerous, small, white and fragrant.
Chemical constituents and properties
• From the seed is produced a bitter fixed oil, nimbidin, known as "Oil of Margosa" or neem oil.
 

• Neem seeds yield a fix oil of glycerides and bitter compounds including nimbin, nimbinin and nimbidol.
 

• Neem bark and leaves contain tannin and oil.
 

• Azadirachtin, the insecticide constitutent of the seeds, is biodegradable, non-mutagenic, and nontoxic to birds, fish, and warm-blooded animals. The EPA has approved a neem formulation (Margosan-O) as a pesticide for limited use on nonfood crops
 

• Antiinflammatory (nimbidin, sodium nimbidate, gallic acid, catechin, polysachharides).
 

• Antiarthritic, hypoglycemic, antipyretic, hypoglycemic, diuretic, anti-gastric ulcer (nimbidin)
 

• Antifungal (nimbidin, gedunin, cyclic trisulfide)
 

• Antibacterial (nimbidin, nimbolide, mahmoodin, margolone, margolonone, isomargolonone)
 

• Spermicidal (nimbin, nimbidin)
 

• Antimalarial (nimbolidfe, gedunin, azadirachtin)
 

• Antitumor (polysaccharides)
 

• Immunomodulatory (NB-II peptoglycan, gallic acid, epicatechin, catechin)
 

• Hepatoprotective (aequeous extract of neem leaf)
 

• Antioxidant (neem seed extract)
Others
 
Young tender branches are chewed for toothbrushing use.
 

Leaf's oil is used as a local antiseptic and insecticide.
 

Neem oil may be useful for gingivitis.
 

In the rural areas, burning of leaves and seeds used as mosquito repellant.
 

Neem oil has been shown to possess some spermicidal and contraceptive properties when used intravaginally.
 

Use of neem oil in animals showed lowering of glucose

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