Description

Neem is an evergreen tree that belongs to the Meliaceae family and is found all over the world. Neem leaves are used throughout the world to extract various compounds that hold medicinal and therapeutic importance. Several active chemical compounds present in the plant, include glycosides, dihydrochalcone, coumarin, tannins, zadirachtin, nimbin, nimbidine, diterpenoids, triterpenoids, proteins, carbohydrates, sulphurous compounds, polyphenolics, among othersThe most commonly active compounds found in neem are azadirachtin, nimbin and nimbidine. Nimbolide, a tetranortriterpenoid limonoid, is one of the important contributors to the cytotoxicity of neem extracts.

Health benefits

• Neem leaf extracts are found to have suppressing effects on four Aspergillus species which are known to cause deadly diseases like aspergilloses, dermatophytosis, and candidiases. ⁽¹⁾
• Neem leaf extracts have shown to downregulate Bcl-2 expression and upregulate Bim, caspase-8, and caspase-3 expression in the buccal pouch indicating that it has apoptosis (death of cells which occurs as a normal and controlled part of an organism's growth or development) inducing effects in the target organ. ⁽²⁾ 
• Nimbidin extracts from the neem leaf have the ability to suppress the functions of macrophages and neutrophils relevant to inflammation. They act as potential anti-inflammatory agents. ⁽²⁾ 
• Aqueous neem leaf extracts significantly prevent changes in the serum levels of bilirubin, protein, alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, and alkaline phosphatase and thus show hepatoprotective effects. ⁽²⁾ 
• Methanolic extracts of neem leaves show a good oral glucose tolerance and significantly reduce the intestinal glucosidase activity. It acts as a good anti-diabetic agent.⁽²⁾ 

Selection Guide

Go for organic neem extract with no artificial additives. Check for its expiry date on the packaging.