Neem the wonder herb - Health benefits, application, chemical constituents, side effects and many more

 

Neem the wonder herb

Neem (Azadirachta indica) is a member of the Meliaceae family and its role as health-promoting effect is attributed because it is rich source of antioxidant. Neem tree, having a wide range of medicinal properties, has attracted worldwide prominence in recent years. Medicinal properties of neem have been known to Indians since time immemorial. The earliest Sanskrit medical writings refer to the benefits of neem's fruits, seeds, oil, leaves, roots and bark.  It has been widely used in Chinese, Ayurvedic, and Unani medicines worldwide especially in Indian Subcontinent in the treatment and prevention of various diseases.

The neem (Azadirachta indica A. Juss.) is a tropical evergreen tree (deciduous in drier areas) native to Indian sub-continent. The word 'neem' is derived from the Sanskrit word 'nimba' which means to best of health. This signifies the great therapeutic value of this magnificent tree. Neem is popularly called by various names such as 'nature's gift to human kind', 'nature's bitter boon', 'the tree of the backyard', 'the wonder tree', 'air purifier', 'a tree for solving global problems' and the 'kalpavriksha' which depict the versatility of the tree with immense utility. The Sanskrit name of the tree was "Arishtha" meaning "reliever of sickness".

Neem is most important medicinal plant that has been declared worldwide as the “Tree of the 21st century” by the United Nations. In India, it is called “Divine Tree”, “Life giving tree”, “Nature's Drugstore”, “Village Pharmacy” and “Panacea for all diseases” 

It shows antioxidant, antibacterial, antifungal, antiviral, anti-inflammatory, antiarthritic, antipyretic, hypoglycemic, antidiabetic, antigastric, immunomodulatory, antiulcer, antimalarial properties.

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Vitamin and Mineral content

The most important active constituent is azadirachtin and the others are nimbolinin, nimbin, nimbidin, nimbidol, sodium nimbinate, gedunin, salannin, and quercetin. 

Leaves contain ingredients such as nimbin, nimbanene, 6-desacetylnimbinene, nimbandiol, nimbolide, ascorbic acid, n-hexacosanol and amino acid, 7-desacetyl-7-benzoylazadiradione, 7-desacetyl-7-benzoylgedunin, 17-hydroxyazadiradione, and nimbiol. 

The trunk bark contains nimbn (0.04%), nimbinin (0.001%), nimbidin (0.4%), nimbosterol (0.03%), essential oil (0.02%), tannins (6.0%), a bitter principle margosine and 6-desacetyl nimbinene. The stem bark contains tannins (12-16%) and non-tannin (8-11%).

flowers contain nimbosterol and flavonoids like kaempferol, melicitrin etc. Flowers also yield a waxy material consisting of several fatty acids, viz., behenic (0.7%), arachidic (0.7%), stearic (8.2%), palmitic (13.6%), oleic (6.5%) and linoleic (8.0%). The pollen of neem contains several amino acids like glumatic acid, tyrosine, arginine, methionion, phenylalanine, histidine, arminocaprylic acid and isoleucine.

The tree exudes a gum, which on hydrolysis yields, L-arabinose, L-fucose, D-galactose and D-glucoronic acid. The older tree exudes a sap containing free sugars (glucose, fructose, mannose and xylose), amino acids (alanine, aminobutyric acid, arginine, asparagines, aspartic acid, glycine, norvaline, praline, etc) and organic acids (citric, malonic, succinic and fumaric).

Quercetin and ß-sitosterol, polyphenolic flavonoids, were purified from neem fresh leaves and were known to have antibacterial and antifungal properties and seeds hold valuable constituents including gedunin and azadirachtin.

Neem oil contain Oleic acid (Omega-9 fatty acid) = 25 to 54%, Hexadecanoic acid (Palmitic acid) = 16 to 33%, Octadecanoic acid (Stearic acid) = 9 to 24%, Linoleic acid (Omega-6 fatty acid) = 6 to 16%, Alpha-linolenic acid (Omega-3 fatty acid), 9-Hexadecenoic acid (Palmitoleic acid)

Neem contains a bitter fixed oil, nimbidin, nimbin, nimbinin and nimbidol, tannin and uses are: 

• 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)

Properties and Benefits

• Rasa (Taste) – Bitter (tikta) and astringent (kashaya)
• Guna (Qualities) – Light to digest (Laghu), Dry (rooksha)
• Taste conversation after digestion – Katu 
• Veerya(Potency) – Sheetala (Cold) 
• Ahrudya – not so good for heart.
• Shramahara – relieves tiredness
• Truthara – relieves excessive thirst. Since it decreases Pitta, it is useful in fever and associated thirst.
• Kasahara – Helps to relieve cough. It is very useful in infective respiratory problems. It has anti-microbial properties.
• Sheeta – Nimba imparts cooling qualities to the body.
• Laghu – undergoes digestion and absorption pretty easily and quickly.
• Grahi – helps in absorbing moisture from the intestine. Dries up and cleans up the moisture in wounds and ulcers.
• Katu – has pungent taste. It also undergoes pungent taste conversion after digestion.
• Tikta – has bitter taste
• Agnikrut – improves digestion process
• Vatakrut – increases Vata
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• Jwarahara – Useful in fever, due to its potent anti microbial phyto-chemicals.
• Aruchihara – Helps to relieve anorexia. Bitter tasting herbs, though very difficult to consume, have this unique property of relieving anorexia.
• Krumihara – Actual translation is – relieves worms. Nimba is useful in intestinal worms, infested wounds, and as an anti -microbial agent.
• Vranahara – Helps to cleanse and heal wounds quickly.
• Pitta – Kaphahara – Balances Pitta and Kapha. Note that, though neem has cold quality, it helps to balance Kapha (which also has cold quality). This is due to its other properties such as Katu vipaka (pungent taste conversion after digestion).
• Chardi – hrillasa hara – Helps to relieve nausea and vomiting
• Kushtahara – Useful in numerous skin diseases
• Mehanut – Useful in diabetes and disorders related to urinary tract.

Neem leaves 

• Netrya – It is good for eyes. Helps to relieve infection.
• Kruminut – Helps relieve worms and microbes
• Pittanut – Balances Pitta
• Vishanut – Natural detoxifier.
• Vatala – increases Vata.
• Katupaka – Pungent taste conversion after digestion.
• Arochaka and Kushtanut – relieves skin diseases and anorexia.

Neem fruit 

• Bhedana – helps to pass bowels easily
• Snidgha – Unctuous, oily
• Laghu – light to digest
• Ushna – hot in potency
• Gulmanut – Relieves bloating
• Arshanut – relieves piles (hemorrhoids)
• Kriminut – relieves worms and infection
• Mehanut – Helps in diabetes.

Uses, Benefits and Application

1) The leaves, applied in the form of poultices or decoctions, are also recommended for boils, ulcers, and eczema. The oil is used for skin diseases such as scrofula, indolent ulcers, and ringworm.

2) Plants fruits, seeds, oil, leaves, bark, and roots show an important role in diseases prevention due to the rich source of antioxidant.

3) Neem bark is used as an active ingredient in a number of toothpastes and toothpowders. 

            - Neem twigs are used as oral deodorant, toothache reliever and for cleaning of teeth.

            - Regular brushing with Neem-containing toothpaste or Neem twigs will reduce the deposition of plaque, prevents caries, and enhances the immune response for overall oral health. 

4) The bark is reported to heal wounds and vitiate conditions of kapha, vomiting, skin diseases, excessive thirst and diabetes. Neem leaves are reported to be beneficial for eye disorders and insect poisons and to treat vatic disorder. It is reported to be antileprotic. Neem fruits are bitter, purgative, antihemorrhoid and antihelminthic.

5) In rural India, delivery chambers are fumigated with burning bark of neem to maintain or create antibacterial and antimicrobial environment. 

             - Dried neem leaves and cow dung are burnt to repel mosquitoes. Here the cow the cow dung work as a fuel to burn, fumigator along with repellent and antimicrobial activity.

              - The antibacterial development of guava and neem isolates against 21 strains of food borne pathogens was evaluated and delayed consequence of the examination recommended that guava and neem extracts have compounds containing antibacterial properties that can possibly be significant to control food borne pathogens and deterioration life forms.

6) The neem liminoids (azadirachtin, salannin, deacetylgedunin) exhibited high larvicidal, pupicidal and antiovipositional bioactivity against malaria vector- Anopheles stephensi.

7) In Ayurveda,  neem  is  normally  used  to  adjust  pitta  and kapha. Its cold, light, and dry characteristics will in general aggravate vata. Neem is in this manner regularly prescribed in mix with different herbs that assistance stifle its vata-inciting nature.   

8) Neem's skin benefits work both inside and outside. As an outer application, Neem oil or cleanser mitigates and grease up the skin.

9) Neem White and sensitive blooms are highly nutritive and Antioxidant rich.

              - Neem flower is tobe eaten during Maharashtra new year called Gudi padva.

              - Neem blooms are utilized usually in the South to cook various dishes: bloom  rice,  pachadi,  rasam,  lentils  and  that's  just the beginning. They're frequently dry simmered and sprinkled over the dish to embellish also. Neem blooms can be utilized to treat anorexia, nausea, belching and intestinal worms.

10) Neem oil capsule in cold and cough is useful especially when there is infection and sinusitis. It helps to prevent or treat infection, being a potent anti bacterial and anti viral herb.

              - Neem oil capsuleis not given alone for cough and cold, it is given along with Sitopaladi churna/Talisadi churna.

11) Neem oil can be blended with coconut oil and apply it over your body too.

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12) Intestinal wounds - 20ml of Decoction made from handful of leaves should be given empty stomach for 3 days. 

13) Loss of appetite - 20ml Decoction made from handful of leaves should be given empty stomach for 3 days. 

14) Dandruff/ring worm - Decoction made from handful of leaves may be applied to scalp and  affected area one hour before bath to alleviate dandruff. 

15) Diabeties - 5gm dry leaves /fruit power with lukewarm water empty stomach twice in a day helps in certain cases of NIDDM (initial stages).

16) Skin Disease - 10ml of juice of leaves with honey twice a day . It is advisable to take bath with water of boiled Neem leaves.

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              - Neem water decoction can be used to wash, during infection. 

Neem is useful to improve glow, reduce acne and reduce oiliness of skin.

            - A few drops of neem oil is taken onto the finger tips and gently rubbed over the face. Leave it on for 10 minutes then wash off with gram flour along with soapnut/Reetha powder. It is best to use neem oil along with carrier oil such as coconut, sesame, oilve, etc.

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17) Neem oil can be used on hair to relieve dandruff and to kill head lice.

           - Teaspoon of neem oil is taken on hand and applied over the scalp with gentle massage. It can be washed off after 30 – 60 minutes. Wash the hair with the help of shampoo or herbal hair wash powder.

18) Neem is now used in cosmetics, hygiene, face masks, lotions, sunscreens, soaps, shampoos, hair tonics, body creams, hand creams, mouth washes, toothpastes, emulsions, ointments, poultices and liniments.

Association Neem with Hindu festivals in India 

Neem leaf or bark is viewed as a compelling pitta pacifier as a result of its unpleasant taste. Consequently, it is customarily suggested amid late-spring in Ayurveda (that is, the month of Chaitra according to the Hindu Calendar which for the most part falls in the period of March – April).

• In the Indian conditions of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Telangana,  Neem  blossoms  are  prominent  for  their utilization in 'Ugadi Pachhadi' (soup-like pickle), which is made  on  Ugadi  day.  In  Andhra  Pradesh,  Karnataka,  and Telangana, a little measure of Neem and Jaggery (Bevu-Bella) is expended on Ugadi day, the Telugu and Kannada new year, demonstrating that one should take both harsh and sweet things throughout everyday life, joy and sorrow. 
• Amid Gudi Padva, which is the New Year in the province of Maharashtra, the old routine with regards to drinking a little amount of neem juice or paste on that, prior day beginning celebrations, is found. As in numerous Hindu celebrations and their relationship with some sustenance to maintain a strategic distance from adverse reactions of the period or change of seasons, neem juice is related with Gudi Padva to remind individuals to utilize it amid that specific month or season to appease summer pitta. 
• In Tamil Nadu amid the late spring a very long time of April to June, the Mariamman temple celebration is a thousand-year-old convention. The Neem leaves and blossoms are the most vital piece of the Mariamman celebration. The statue of the goddess Mariamman will be garlanded with Neem leaves and blooms. Amid most events of festivities and weddings the  general  population  of  Tamil  Nadu  embellish  their surroundings with the Neem leaves and blooms as a type of adornment  and  furthermore  to  avoid  evil  spirits  and diseases. 
• In  the  eastern  coastal  territory  of  Odisha  the  renowned Jagannath temple divinities are comprised of Neem heart wood alongside some other basic oils and powders.

Neem in Agriculture

• Neem leaves are utilized in certain pieces of Indian as manure in rice fields, particularly in the south Indian states. In certain nations, Neem leaves are utilized as mulch in tobacco and tomato fields. They can be all around viably used to execute weeds by spreading them over plant roots to hold dampness. Neem leaves can likewise  be  utilized  to  protect  stored  woolen  and  silk garments from creepy crawlies.
• Neem cake is versatile and has numerous usage. It very well may be utilized as animals feed, compost and regular pesticide. It gives natural nitrogen.  Neem cake is generally utilized in India as compost for sugarcane, vegetable and other money crops.
• Neem oil is a very good pesticide and insecticide. It is used against mites, scale, leaf hoppers, white flies, thrips etc. The oil is also useful against plant fungus such as Black spot, scab, rust, leaf spot, etc.
• Neem has proven use as a fertilizer, with the organic and inorganic compounds present in the plant material acting to improve soil quality and enhance the quality and quantity of crops.

Side effects :

1) The leaves or leaf extracts also should not be consumed by people or fed to animals over a long period. For long term usage of neem or other herbs, you need to consult ayurveda practitioner.

2) Excess oral intakeof oil can also cause vomiting and dizziness. 

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