Open Access

Journal of Drug Discovery, Development & Delivery

Special Article: Pharmacognosy

Neem: An Overview
M Padma Paarakh* Abstract
Department of Pharmacognosy, The Oxford College of
Neem (Azadirachta indica) belonging to the Meliaceae family is
Pharmacy, Bengaluru 560 068, Karnataka, India popular tree. In Traditional System of Medicine, bark, leaf, flower,
seed, oil and other parts are used for number of aliments. Number
*Corresponding author: M Padma Paarakh of patents has been filed for neem for pharmacological uses. This
Department of Pharmacognosy, The Oxford College of review provides a detailed view on Pharmacognosy, phytochemis-
Pharmacy, try and pharmacological activity reported so far.
6/9, I Main, Begur Road, Bengaluru 560 068, Karnataka,
Keywords: Neem; Azadirachta indica; Pharmacognosy; Phyto-
India.
chemistry; Pharmacological activity; Review
Tel: 9880681532
Email: padmaampaarakh@[Link]

Received: September 26, 2023

Accepted: November 07, 2023
Published: November 14, 2023

Introduction
Azadirachta indica is an adaptable medicinal tree belonging grows at temperatures between 0 to 49°C and annual rainfall of
to Meliaceae family. Every part of neem has some beneficial less than 600 mm. The plant is also used in afforestation pro-
effects on human ailments and hence it has gained worldwide grammes in arid and semi-arid regions [4].
importance. 4000 years existence plant in India is Azadirachta
indica [1]. Propagation and Cultivation

[Link] also known as Margosa tree, as ‘arista’ or ‘nimba’ It is a hard tree, grows well in saline soils and drought con-
and ‘nimbati swasthyamdadati in Sanskrit meaning ‘to give ditions. Growth is slow in water-logged conditions. Propagated
good health’. The biological benefits of neem are enlisted in from seeds, which should be sown immediately after ripening,
‘Charak-Samhita’ and ‘Susruta-Samhita’, which forms the ba- as their viability is very short. Seeds germinate within three
sis of Ayurvedic system of treatment. ‘Azad- Darakth- E- Hind’ weeks time. Root suckers and stem cuttings are also used for
means ‘Free tree of India’ in Persian. Neem is considered ge- planting. It can be grown in all types of soil, but black-loam soil
netic diverse plant. In India, Neem was used for chicken pox and is more suitable. Within one year, the seedlings grow up to a
small pox from antiquity. It has been used for environment pro- height of 120 cm. Rapid multiplication through leaf culture has
tection such as soil erosion, soil fertility, insecticide, pesticide been found successful. Tissue culture techniques have been
etc [2]. reported for the production of azadirachtin from cultures of
leaves and flowers. 20 weeks old callus of leaves is reported to
Habitat yield maximum concentration of azadirachtin upto 2.68 % and
the 12 weeks old flower callus 2.46 % of azadirachtin on dry
Although the exact native region of Neem tree is not known,
weight basis [5,6].
it is thought to be originating naturally in south Asia and it grows
in natural forests with drier-climatic condition of southern In- Scientific Classification of Neem
dia and Burma. For many millennia, neem has been cultivated
in India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Thailand, Kingdom: Plantae
Southern Malaysia, and the drier Indonesian islands from Java Division: Magnoliophyte
eastward. Neem was introduced to Fiji and Mauritius during
early 19th century [3]. Class: Magnoliopsida

Climate Order: Sapindales

It is a drought resistant tree and the mean annual tem- Family: Meliaceae
perature ranges from 21 to 32°C for its growth. In India, neem
Genus: Azadirachta
Drug Discovery, Development and Delivery Citation: M Padma Paarakh. Neem: An Overview. J Drug Discov Develop and Deliv; 9(1):
Volume 9, Issue 1 (2023) 1046.
[Link]
M Padma Paarakh © All rights are reserved
M Padma Paarakh Austin Publishing Group

Species: indica Traditional Actions and Uses

Scientific name: Azadirachta indica Bark: It is urinary astringent, acrid, pectoral, tonic, hyper-
dipsia, leprosy, skin diseases, eczema, leucoderma, pruritis,
Vernacular Names malaria, burning sensation, tumor, dyspepsia, intestinal worms,
¾¾ Hindi – Nim, Nimb hepatopathy, cough, bronchitis, urine incontinence, diabetes,
inflammation, wound healing, ulcer, amenorrhea, lumbago,
¾¾ English – Margosa, Neem, Indian Lilac hemorrhoids, otalgia, syphilis and fatigue.
¾¾ Konkani – Beva-rooku Leaves: It is anthelmintic, insecticidal, demulcent, refriger-
¾¾ Bengali – Nim,Nimgach ant, skin diseases, leucoderma, in burning sensation, leprosy,
pruritus, antiseptic, ophthalmic, ophthalmopathy, intestinal
¾¾ Marathi – Kadunimb worms, dyspepsia, ulcer, tuberculosis, boils, eczema,malarial
and intermittent fevers.
¾¾ Gujarathi – Limba
Flowers: It is used as a refrigerant, ophthalmic, stomachic,
¾¾ Tamil – Veppamaram, Vempu, Veppam anthelmintic, tonic, burning sensation, ophthalmopathy, colic,
¾¾ Punjabi – Nimb dyspepsia, intestinal worms and general debility.

¾¾ Malayalam – Veepu, Aryaveppu, Aruveppu, Kaippan, Seeds: It is used as acrid, thermogenic, purgative, emollient,
Veppu, Vepa anodyne, anthelmintic, depurative, vulnerary, uterine stimu-
lant, urinary astringent, tumors, leprosy, skin diseases, odontal-
¾¾ Oriya – Nimo gia, intestinal worms, wounds, ulcers and diabetes.
¾¾ Telugu –Vepa, Yapachettu Oil: It is anthelmintic, anodyne, depurative, chronic skin dis-
¾¾ Kannada – Bevinmar, Kahibevu [7] eases, syphilitic sores, ulcer, ringworm, scabies, worms, fever
and leprosy [1,2,4,7].
Botanical Description
Ayurvedic Properties
Macroscopical Characteristics
Rasa: Tikta, Kashaya
A large evergreen tree, 12 to 18m high with bitter in taste.
Guna: Laghu
Bark: Dark brown to grayish, thick hard woody, external
rough surface, scaly, oblique furrows, bitter taste, characteristic Veerya: Sheeta
odor, straight trunk. Vipaka: Katu
Leaved: Leaves are dark green coloured, compound, ovate- Doshaghnata: Kaphapitashamaka
lanceolate, attenuate, opposite, imparipinnate (5-15 leaflets),
serrated edges, short petioles, 3-8 cm long, with typical odor. Rogaghnata: Vidradhi, Granthi, Amavata, Vamana, Kaphapa-
ittika etc.
Fruits: Glabrous, olive like drupe, oval to roundish, green,
edible and thin skinned. Karma: Vranapachana, Vranashodhana, Ampachana,
Juaraghna, Vishamapwara pratibandhaka, Chakshushya etc.
Flowers: Flowers are white, fragrant, arranged in axillary
panicles, protandrous, bisexual flowering. Doses

Seed: One seeded only, dirty brown in color, with gritty Bark powder: 2 to 4 gm
touch and oily. Leaf juice: 10 to 20 ml;
Microscopical Characteristics Powder: 2-4 g.
The transverse section showed outer dark reddish brown Oil- 5 to 10 drops [11].
rhytidoma consisting of 10 to 15 rows of outer most dark brown
colored cells of cork, and a narrow band of stone cells lying Chemical Constituents
underneath this followed by outer few rows of parenchyma
and inner wide 20 to 25 rows of dark orange brown colored More than 100 compounds, mostly triterpenoids of proto-
phloem tissue; very narrow band of phelloderm with tangen- limonoids (proto-meliacin), Limonoids (or meliacins or tetran-
tially running tannin cells and very wide phloem with discon- ortriterpenoids), tetranortriterpenoid-γ hydroxy butenolides,
tinuous groups of crystal fibers alternating with medullary rays. pentanortriterpenoids. Hexanortriterpenoid apart from a few
Prismatic crystals of calcium oxalate traversed throughout the nontriterpenoid constituents have been reported from various
parenchymatous cells. parts as detailed below.

Powder Characteristics Leaves: Azadirachtin, azadirachtol, azadirachnol, deacetyl-

azadirachtinol (-3- tigloylazadirachtol), azadiradione, an iso-
It shows abundant fragments of rhytidoma embedded with mer of epoxyszadiradione, 17 epi and 17-hydroxyazadiradi-
stone cells, isolated or groups of fibres; few oval to rectangular one, gedunin, 7-hydroxygedunin, melianone, bol nimboeinol
sclerides associated with idioblast containing prismatic crystals (7-acetoxy-7-hydroxy azadiradione), nimocin, 7-deacetoxy- ni-
of calcium oxalate, few simple, oval to spherical starch grains molicinol, nimolinone, nimbochalcin and nimbocetin, 21,23
and parenchymatous cell filled tannin contents [8-10]. 24,25- diepoxytirucall-7-en-21-ol salannin, azadirachtanin, aza-

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dirone, azadiradione,epoxyazadiradione, isoazadirolide, nim- Identification by TLC

bandiol nimbinene desacetylnimbinene, nimbin, nimbocinolide,
isonimbocinolide, nimbolide, nimocinolide, isonimocinolide, ni- Stationery phase: Silica Gel GF254 precoated plates
mocinone, 2',3'-dehydrosalannol kaempferol-3-0-8-glucoside, Mobile phase: Toluene: ethyl acetate: glacial acetic acid:
myricetin, 3-L-arabinoside (mellictrin), 3-0-L-ehanmonide and 5:5:1
3-0-rutinoside, quercetin, its 3-galactoside, 3-0-L- thanoside
and 3-0-runinoside, nimbaflavones, scopoletin, β-sitosterol and Standard preparation: 10 mg of epicatechin is dissolved in 5
its β-D-glucoside, amino acids, β-carotene, carbohydrates, n- ml of methanol
hexacosanol, nomacommol, protein and vitamins. Sample preparation: Reflux 5 g of drug with methanol for 8
Fruits and Seeds: Kernels yield about 400-48.9% of the oil hrs [2 times]. Filter and remove the solvent. Dissolve in 10 ml
and contain high amount of tocopherol, arachidic, linoleic, mar- of methanol.
gosic, myristic, oleic, palmitic and stearic acids, azadirone aza- Spray reagent: Spray with 10% ethanol potassium hydroxide
diradione, epoxyazadiradione (nimbinin), gedunin, meldenin, solution and observe under UV 365 nm.
meliatriol, nimbine, mbinene 6-desacetyl nimbinene, nimbi-
din, nimbidiol, 6-O-acetylnimbandiol, nimbidic acid, salannin, Detection: Rf 0.29 corresponding to epicatechin is seen in
3-desacetylsalannin, salannol and its acetate, salannolide, ve- both standard and test.
pinine, vilasinin 1,3-diacetylvilasinin, 1-tigloyl-3-acetyl-vilasinin,
and tiglic acid (seed oil), in addition, azadirachtin, 22,23-dihy- Estimation by HPTLC
dro-23-8-methorey- azadirachtin (vepaol) and its C-23 epimer Method is followed as per identification method except plate
(isovepaol), 7-desacetyl-7-benzoyl derivatives of azadirone, after drying is scanned at 424 nm
azadiradione, epoxyazadiradione, 2-dihydro- epoxyazadiradi-
one, 18.28-diepoxyazadiradione, 7-desacetyl-7-benzoyl-geduni Content present in the sample is determined from the peak
acetylneotrichilenone, nimbidin, nimbidinin, salannic (nimbid- area under the curve.
ic) acid (seeds). Quantitative Standards
Flowers: Benzyl alcohol, β-sitosterol, thioamyl alcohol, ara- Foreign matter: Not more than 0.3 % w/w
chidic, behenic, colic, oleic, palmitic and stearic acids, kaemp-
ferol and its 3-glucoside, quercetin -3- galactoside and myric- Ash: Not more than 3.0 % w/w
etin-3-L-arabinoside, azadirachtin and margosene. flowerine,
flowerone, O‐ methylazadironolide and diepoxyazadirol. Other Acid insoluble ash: Not more than 0.25 % w/w
known constituents present in flowers are triterpenoid (trichil- Alcohol soluble extractive: Not less than 4.5 % w/w
enone acetate), flavanones, nimbaflavone, 3′‐prenylnaringenin
and 4‐(2‐hydroxyethyl) phenol. Water soluble extractive: Not less than 5.0 % w/w [11,18]

Heartwood: Tannin, β-sitosterol and its glucoside, 24-methy- Therapeutic Properties

lene-cycloartenol, 4,14,α-dimethyl-3-α-ergosta-8, 24(28)- d-38- The pharmacological activities of phytoconstituents report-
ol 4-methyl-Sa-ergosta-8, 24(28)-dien-38-ol, nimatone, nimbi- ed so far from this plant is given below in the Table [13-15].
nene, 6-desacetyl nimbinene, nimbolins A and B.
Chemical constituents Biological activity
Stem bark: Vanilic acid, catechol, campesterol stigmasterol, Anti-inflammatory
sitosterol, β-amyrin, lupeol, nimbin, nimbidin, nimbinin supiol Antiarthritic
kulinone, kulactone, kulolactone methyl kulonate, 60- hydroxy- Antipyretic
Hypoglycaemic
4-stigmasten-3-one and 68-hydroxy-4-campesten-3-one. Nimbidin Antigastric ulcer
Spermicidal
Wood: Gedunin, 7-deacetoxy-7-axogedunin, fraxinellone, Antifungal
Antibacterial
nimbolin A gydoeucalemone, melanin A and B. Diuretic
Sodium nimbidate Anti-inflammatory
Twigs: Margosinolide, isomargosinolide, desacetyl nimbino- Nimbin Spermicidal
lide and desacetyl isonimbinolide. Nimbolide Antibacterial
Antimalarial
Wood Oil: Cycloeucalenol, 24- methylene cycloartenol and Gedunin Antifungal
β-sitosterol. Antimalarial
Azadirachtin Antimalarial
Trunk bark: Nimbiol, sugiol and bosterol nimbolins A and B Mahmoodin Antibacterial
(trunk wood), Gallic acid, (–)epicatechin and catechin Anti-inflammatory and
Immunomodulatory
Root: 24-methylene- cycloartenol, 24-methylene-cycloarta- Margolone, margolononeand isomargolo- Antibacterial
none
none, cycloeucalenol, cycloeucalenone, 4- campesten-3-one,
Cyclic trisulphide, Antifungal
4-stigmasten-3-one, trans-cinnamic and vanillic acids, nimbin cyclic tetrasulphide
and nimbidin. Polysaccharides Anti-inflammatory
Polysaccharides GIa, GIb Antitumour
Besides aesculetin, campesterol, 6-hydroxy- 7-methoxy- Polysaccharides GIIa, Anti-inflammatory
coumarin, 4α, 6α-dihydroxy-A-homoazadirone, isomeldenin, GIIIa
meldenindiol, 17-acetoxy-meliacin, 6-0-acetylnimbandiol, de- NB-II peptidoglycan Immunomodulatory (13-15)
sacetylnimbin, nimocinol, isonimolicinolide and nimolinolic Glycoprotein Immunomodulatory(19)
Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s
acid have been isolated from various parts of tree [12-17]. Proline disease(20,21)
Epoxyazadiradione Human cervical cancer(22)

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Pharmacological Activities
To understand the pharmacological activity it is given in form of Table below
Sl No Activity Part of plant Extract Observation Reference
1 Antioxidant activity Leaf, flower, stem bark Different extracts High activity in ethanol extract in all parts 23
24
Flower and seed oil Ethanol extract High scavenging activity in both

Bark and leaves Ethanol extract Bark had high antioxidant activity then leaves 25
Roots Methanol extract High scavenging activity 26
Methanol and chlo-
Leaves Methanol extract had better antioxidant activity 27
roform extract
50% wound healing activity in non healing wound in 44%
2 Wound healing activity Oil - 28
patients
Leaves Aqueous extract Significant reduction in wound size 29,30
Significant anti-inflammatory activity in rats treated with
3 Anti-inflammatory activity Neem fruit skin Alcohol extract 31
100mg/kg dose
Seed Oil Increased inhibition of edema in dose of 0.05-2 ml/kg 32
Reduced elevated levels of AST and ALT; liver necrosis was
4 Hepatoprotective activity Leaf Aqueous extract 33
reduced
Prevented and reversed the hepatotoxic effect caused by
Leaf Aqueous extract 34,35
antitubercualr drugs
Significantly decreased allodynia, hyperalgesia, motor coor-
5 Neuroprotective activity Neem Standardized extract dination and motor nerve conduction velocity and reduced 36
oxidative stress and inflammatory markers
Reversed effects of cisplatin and proved neuroprotective
Leaf Ethanol extract 37
activity
6 Nephroprotective activity Leaves Methanol extract Significant protective effect 38
Activation of cell mediated immune mechanism against
7 Immunomodulatory activity Oil - 39
mitogens.
Improved antibody titer growth when mixed in drinking
Leaves Infusion 40
water
It caused prolongation of diesterus phase with reduction in
8 Antifertility activity Flower Alcohol extract 41
esterus phase and also reduced numbers of ova
Reduced spermatogenesis and testosterone level is not
Neem Oil 42
affected
Extracts and neem Decreased the plaque formation and gingival scores reduc-
9 Dental health Neem 43
sticks tion
Petroleum and chlo- Chloroform extract had strong antimicrobial activity against
Leaves 44
roform extract Streptococus mutans
10 Antidiabetic activity Leaves Ethanol extract Glucose level is reduced at 250mg/kg dose 45
Glucose level is reduced at dose of 200,400 and 800mg/kg
Root bark Ethanol extract 46
by 54%
Alone and along with glibenclamide was capable of reducing
Kernel powder - 47
blood glucose level and serum enzymes also
Restored biochemical and hemodynamic parameters and
11 Cardioprotective activity Leaves Alcohol extract had similar effect as cardioprotective as compared to Vita- 48
min E
12 Antimicrobial activity Leaves Ethanol extract Controls food borne pathogens and other spoilage organism 49
Leaves Ethanol extract Zone of inhibition is greater when compared to standard 50
Leaves and seed Ethanol extract MIC was found to be 31ug/ml for dermatophytes 51
13 Antiviral activity Bark Ethanol extract Blocked HSV-1 virus entry into cells 52
14 Anticancer activity Leaves Ethanol extract Increased death of 4T1 breast cancer cells 53
Decreased lymphocytic leukemia cell survival and increased
Leaves Ethanol extract 54
death
Leaves Ethanol extract Inhibited mammary tumor including growth and occurrence 55,56
Leaves Ethanol extract suppressed prostate cancer cell lines 57
Leaves Ethanol extract Suppresed MCF-2, HeLa, skin, lung,liver cancers 58
Leaves Ethanol extract Tumor size decreased in buccal carcinoma in hamster 59,60
Leaves - Reduction in tumor size in murine solid Ehrlich carcinoma 61
15 Pesticide activity Seeds Oil Natural pesticide 62-64
Intestinal ischemic-reperfu-
16 Leaves Methanol extract Reduced myeloperoxidase levels 65
sion injury

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Inhibited inflammation and colon mucosal damage; in-

17 Colitis activity Leaves Methanol extract 66
creased GSH level
18 Antipyretic activity Leaves Ethanol extract Reduced body temperature 67

List of Few Marketed Products and Their Use

Sr.
Marketed Product Uses

1. Making Shampoo, Tooth Paste, Soaps, Cosmetics,

NATURE NEEM OIL
Mosquito repellant, Insecticidal,
2. TOTAL CARE Pest Control
3. Animal Skin Care, Healing Aid For Skin Irritation,
BIOCARE
Minor Cuts, Broken Skin, Pesticidal, Insecticidal
4. NEEM GUARD Urea Coating Agent
5. NATURE NEEM SEED Organic Plant
CAKE & SEED POWDER Food which increase
productivity & Soil Fertility,
Antifungal

Formulations and Preparations and quercetin in alloxan-induced hyperglycemic rats. Adv Pharm
Bull. 2014; 4: 613-8.
Shankhapushpi taila, Jwarasamhara rasa, Mahamarichyadi
taila, Pathyadi kvatha, Mahamanjishthadyarishta, Punarnavadi 4. Kumar VS, Navaratnam V. Neem. Neem (Azadirachta indica):
kvatha, Mahasudarshana churna, Raktashodhaka vati, Nim- prehistory to contemporary medicinal uses to humankind. Asian
baharidra khanda, Nimbarishta, Mahagandhaka vati, Nimbadi Pac J Trop Biomed. 2013; 3: 505-14.
churna, Panchaguna taila, Madhyam narayana taila, Guduchya- 5. Ogbuewu IP, Odoemenam VU, Obikaonu HO, Opara MN, Emen-
dighana kvatha [11]. alom OO, Uchegbu MC, et al. The growing importance of neem
Safety Aspects (Azadirachta indica A. Juss) in agriculture, industry, medicine
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The drug used traditionally in prescribed doses may be con-
6. Jarvis AP, Morgan EP, VanderEsch SA, Vitali F, Hey SU, Tape A.
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Conclusion Prod Lett. 1997; 10: 95-8.

7. Anonymous. Medicinal plants of India. New Delhi: Indian Coun-

We can say neem as one plant for treatment of number
cil of Medical Research. 1: 112-7.
of ailments. Scientifically it has be proven to be antioxidant,
wound healing, antipyretic, antiallergic, antiasthmatic, anti- 8. Chandra V. Botany of neem. Annals For. 1997; 5: 182-8.
inflammatory,hepatoprotective, nueroprotective, nephropro-
9. Mitra R. Bibiliography on pharmacognosy of medicinal plants.
tective, immunomodulatory, antifertility, dental hygiene, anti-
Lucknow: National Botanical Research Institute. 1985; 53.
diabetic, cardioprotective, antimicrobial, anticancer, pesticide
etc. This review gives the details of chemicals isolated and phar- 10. Narayana AK. Nimba –Pharmacognosy of ayurvedic drugs of
macological activity of the isolated compounds as well as ex- Kerala, Central Research Institute. Trivendrum. 1957; 1: 25-30.
tract. An extensive research and development work should be
11. Anonymous. The ayurvedic Pharmacoepoeia of India. part 1,
undertaken on neem and its products for their better economic Nimba(leaf& Stem bark). New Delhi: Department of Ayush. 2:
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Author Statements 12. Ahmed E, Nidal J, Nagib E. A review of chemical constituents and
traditional usage of Neem plant (Azadirachta indica A. Juss.).
Acknowledgement Palestinian Med Pharm J. 2017; 2: 75-81.
The authors would like to thank Dr S.N.V.L Narasimha Raju, 13. Srivasatava SK, Agarwal B, Akhilesh K, Archana P. Phytochemi-
Chairman, The Oxford Group of Institutions and The Oxford Col- cals of Azadirachta indica source of active medicinal constitu-
lege of Pharmacy for their kind support for the project work. ents used for cure of various diseases: a review. J Sci Res. 2020;
Articles taken for this publication from different source is also 64: 385-90.
acknowledged.
14. Saleem S, Muhammad G, Muhammed AH, Syed NAB. A compre-
Conflicts of Interest hensive review of phytochemical profile, bioactive for pharma-
ceutical and pharmacological attributes of (Azadirachta indica
There are no conflicts of interest. A. Juss.). Phytother Res. 2018; 32: 1241-72.
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