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| Latin Names |
English Names |
Sanskrit Names |
Hindi Names |
Azadirachta indica
A. Juss.
/ Melia azadirachta
Linn. (Meliaceae)
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Indian Lilac,
Margosa Tree, Neem Tree |
Nimba
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Nim, Nimb |
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| Habitat |
It is commonly
found throughout the greater part of India and often cultivated.
Though not a forest-tree, it is generally found to grow wild.
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| Morphology
Description (Habit) |
A large, evergreen
tree, with long, spreading branches forming a broad crown. The
bark is grey and rough; the leaves are alternate, the leaflets
8-19, glossy and bluntly serrate; the flowers are white or pale-yellow,
small, scented, numerous and found in long, axillary panicles;
the drupes are yellow on ripening, aromatic, oblong and smooth,
with a single exalbuminous seed.
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| Principal
Constituents |
The alcoholic extract
of the fresh stem and bark yielded the bitter principles nimbin, nimbinin,
and nimbidin. The alcoholic extract of the air-dried rootbark yielded
nimbin and nimbidin. Another terpenic constituent, identical with
sugiol, is reported to be present in the stem and bark. Petrol-ether
soluble fraction of the alcoholic extract of the stem-bark yielded
an essential oil (0.02%), having characteristics similar to the oil
isolated from the blossoms. All parts of the plant yield ß-sitosterol1.
The leaves contain nimbin, nimbinene, 6-desacetylnimbinene, nimbandiol,
nimbolide and quercetin. The presence of ß-sitosterol, n-hexacosanol
and nonacosane is also reported2. The diterpenoids margolone,
nimbogone, nimbonolone and mimbolinin have been isolated from the
plant3.
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| Pharmacology |
A crude extract
of the leaves was studied for its effects on the cardiovascualar system
of anesthetized guinea pigs and rabbits. The extract (200mg/kg) decreased
the heart-rate of the rabbit from 280 to 150 beats/min. It also exhibited
a weak anti-arrhythmic activity in rabbit against ouabain-induced
dysrhythmia4.
The leaves are reported to possess antifertility properties. The powder
of the leaves at the dose level of 20mg, 40mg and 60mg/rat/day for
24 days exhibited spermicidal activity. The leaves are said to be
used as an anthelmintic. The aqueous extract of leaves exhibited anti-ulcer
and anti-inflammatory activity. The water soluble portion of the alcoholic
extract of the leaves was found to possess a significant blood sugar
lowering effect in glucose-fed and adrenaline-induced hyperglycemic
rats but failed to show such effect in normal and streptozotocin induced
diabetic rats. The freshly prepared leaf extract at low doses (10,
20, 50, 100 and 200mg/kg) produced a significant anti-anxiety effect
whereas at higher doses (400mg and 800mg/kg) it did not show the activity.
The acetone extract of leaves exhibited CNS depression, a reduction
of blood pressure as well as heart rate without showing diuretic activity5.
Laboratory trials on rats have shown that the oil from the seed kernal
and nimbidol in a dose of 8mg/kg body wt possess anti-arthritic action6.
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| Clinical
studies |
Clinical trials
were conducted on 9 patients of congestive heart failure with anasarca
to study the diuretic effect of sodium nimbidinate. 250mg were administered
daily by deep intra-muscular injection in the gluteal region. The
injections were repeated for 2-13 days with an average of about 5
injections per patient. Four other patients were also studied as controls
on the same lines with bed rest, low sodium diet and adequate digitalization
without any diuretic. Eight of the patients showed a definite diuretic
response. The control group did not show any diuresis. No toxic reaction
was noted except local discomfort or slight pain7.
Clinical trials were conducted on 12 cases of congestive cardiac failure
with sodium nimbidinate for diuretic activity. Encouraging diuretic
activity was observed with good response in 4 cases. There was no
significant toxicity8.
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| Toxicity |
A study of the toxicity
of nimbidin on frogs showed that the average lethal dose was estimated
at 0.25mg/g body wt.
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| Indications |
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Neem extracts have
been reported to possess anti-diabetic, anti-bacterial and anti-viral
properties. The stem, root, bark and young fruits are reported to
possess astringent, tonic and anti-periodic properties. The bark is
reported to be beneficial in malarial fever and useful in cutaneous
diseases.
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| Product Range |
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Pilex (VeinCare),
PureHands, Purim (HemoCare), Anti-Dandruff Hair Oil,
Dental Cream, Revitalizing Hair Oil, Erina, Erina-EP, Erina Plus, Liv.52 Protec, Scavon, Neem.
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| References |
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Indian Pat. NO.13343, 1927; Bhattacharji et. al., J
sci industr Res, 1953, 12B, 154; Mitra et. al., ibid,
12B, 152; Sengupta et. al., Chem & Ind, 1958, 861; Narasimhan,
Chem & Ind, 1957, 661.
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Ketkar, 1976, 208; Troup, I, 180; Dastur, Useful Plants, 39;
Mitra, C R , 6, 9, 64; Christopher, loc. cit.; Murthy, Indian
Fmg, N S, 1957-58, 7(9), 9; Macmillan, 29; Basu & 6 Chakraborty,
J Indian chem Soc, 1968, 45, 466; Chem Abstr,1981, 95, 111715;
Awasthi & Mitra, Phytochemistry, 1971, 10, 2842; Nutritive Value
of Indian Foods, 69; Dakshinamurti, Curr Sci, 1954, 23, 125.
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Hanson, Nat Prod Rep, 1991, 54, 6.
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Mitra, C R, 64, 96; Tyagi et. al., Nagarjun 1977-78,
21(4), 5; Basu, J Bombay nat Hist Soc, 1955-56, 53, 743; Rao
et. al., Indian J med Res, 1969, 57, 495; Joshi & Magar,
J sci industr Res, 1952, 11B, 261; Banerjee & Sanyal, Proc Indian
Sci Congr, 1956, pt. III, 348; Shrivastava & Singh, Indian Drugs,
1981-82, 19, 245; Dictionary org Compds, V, 688; Thompson &
Anderson, J pharm Sci, 1978, 67, 1467.
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Qamar et.al., Pakist J Industr Res, 1989, 32, 600; Vedavathy
et. al., Int J Pharmacogn 1991, 29, 113; Bhattarai, ibid,
1992, 30, 145; Shaikh, Curr Sci, 1993, 64, 688; Garg, et.
al., Planta Med, 1993, 59, 215 Alam et. al., Fitoterapia,
1990, 61, 240; Chattopadhyay & Maitra, ibid, 1993, 64, 332;
El-Hawary & Kholief, Arch Pharm Res, 1990, 13, 108; Handa, 1992,
63, 3; Jaiswal et. al., Indian J. Exp Biol, 1994, 32,
484; Chattopadhyay et. al., ibid, 1992, 738; Singh et.
al., ibid, 1990, 61, 164.
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Dastur, Useful Plants, 40; Mitra, Indian Oilseeds J, 1956-57,
1, 256;Information from Dr C R Mitra, NBRI, Lucknow; Shankaranarayanan
& Sirsi, Indian J Pharm, 1961, 23, 53.
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Shah et. al., Ind. J. Med. Sci., 1958, 12, 150.
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Shah et. al., J. Assoc. Physician India, 1959, 7, 235.
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