Azadirachta indica

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Neem
Azadirachta indica, flowers & leaves
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Division: Magnoliophyta
Order: Sapindales
Family: Meliaceae
Genus: Azadirachta
Species: A. indica
Binomial name
Azadirachta indica
A.Juss.
Synonyms[1]
  • Antelaea azadirachta (L.) Adelb.[citation needed]
  • Melia azadirachta L.
  • Melia indica (A. Juss.) Brandis

Azadirachta indica (नीम Neem (Hindi), Nimm in Sindhi نیم Neem (Urdu), নিম Nim (Bengali), कडूनिंब Kadunimb (Marathi), ಬೇವು Bevu (Kannada), வேம்பு Vembu (Tamil), ആര്യവേപ്പു് Arya Veppu (Malayalam), వేప Vepa (Telugu)), લીમડા Limda (Gujarati)) is a tree in the mahogany family Meliaceae. It is one of two species in the genus Azadirachta, and is native to India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh growing in tropical and semi-tropical regions. Neem tree is the official tree of the Sindh Province and is very common in all cities of Sindh, there are projects underway for planting this tree in all over Sindh Province. Neem trees also grow in islands in the southern part of Iran where it is called "Cherish" چریش" or Azad derakht "آزاد درخت" in Persian. Its fruits and seeds are the source of neem oil.

Neem is a fast-growing tree that can reach a height of 15–20 metres (49–66 ft), rarely to 35–40 metres (115–130 ft). It is evergreen, but in severe drought it may shed most or nearly all of its leaves. The branches are wide spread. The fairly dense crown is roundish or ovular and may reach the diameter of 15–20 metres (49–66 ft) in old, free-standing specimens.

Contents

Name in other languages [edit]

The English name neem is borrowed from Hindi; in English it is also known as Indian Lilac. The Urdu name is the same as that used in Nepali, Hindi, and Bengali (নিম). Other vernacular names include Nimm (Punjabi), Vembu (Tamil), Arya Veppu (Malayalam), Azad Dirakht (Persian), Nimba, Arishta, Picumarda (Sanskrit, Oriya), Limdo (Gujarati language) Kadu-Limba (Marathi), Dongoyaro (in some Nigerian languages), Margosa, Neem (نيم) (Arabic), Nimtree, Vepu (వేపు), Vempu (வேம்பு), Vepa (వేప) (Telugu), Bevu( ಕಹಿ ಬೇವು (Kannada), Kodu nimb (Konkani), කොහොඹ (Kohomba, Sinhala), Tamar (Burmese), sầu đâu, xoan Ấn Độ (Vietnamese), ស្ដៅ (Sdao, Khmer), สะเดา (Sadao, Thai), אזדרכת (Hebrew), "Maliyirinin" (Bambara language) and Paraiso (Spanish). In East Africa it is also known as Muarubaini (Swahili).

Leaves [edit]

The opposite, pinnate leaves are 20–40 centimetres (7.9–16 in) long, with 20 to 31 medium to dark green leaflets about 3–8 centimetres (1.2–3.1 in) long. The terminal leaflet is often missing. The petioles are short. Leaves have been used medicinally since ancient times in India, Pakistan to give baths to children suffering from skin diseases.The leaves are used in this manner that first they are washed thoroughly. Then 5-10 leaves along with the branch are boiled till the water turns green The water is then used for varying purposes. Elders find it useful in controlling high blood sugar level and is said to clean up the blood. Neem is also used to give baths to the Muslim dead. Neem leaves are dried in India, Pakistan and placed in cupboards to prevent insects eating the clothes and also while storing rice in tins(natural pesticide). Neem leaves are dried and burnt in the tropical regions of Pakistan to keep away mosquitoes. These leaves are also used in many Indian festivals (by making them into garlands).

Flowers [edit]

The (white and fragrant) flowers are arranged axillary, normally in more-or-less drooping panicles which are up to 25 centimetres (9.8 in) long. The inflorescences, which branch up to the third degree, bear from 150 to 250 flowers. An individual flower is 5–6 millimetres (0.20–0.24 in) long and 8–11 millimetres (0.31–0.43 in) wide. Protandrous, bisexual flowers and male flowers exist on the same individual. Its leaf is approximately 5 to 10 cm. long

Fruit [edit]

The fruit is a smooth (glabrous) olive-like drupe which varies in shape from elongate oval to nearly roundish, and when ripe are 1.4–2.8 centimetres (0.55–1.1 in) by 1.0–1.5 centimetres (0.39–0.59 in). The fruit skin (exocarp) is thin and the bitter-sweet pulp (mesocarp) is yellowish-white and very fibrous. The mesocarp is 0.3–0.5 centimetre (0.12–0.20 in) thick. The white, hard inner shell (endocarp) of the fruit encloses one, rarely two or three, elongated seeds (kernels) having a brown seed coat.

The neem tree is very similar in appearance to its relative, the Chinaberry (Melia azedarach). The Chinaberry tree is toxic to most animals, especially to fish, but birds are known to gorge themselves on the Chinaberries, the seeds passing harmlessly through their unique digestive systems.

Ecology [edit]

The neem tree is noted for its drought resistance. Normally it thrives in areas with sub-arid to sub-humid conditions, with an annual rainfall 400–1,200 millimetres (16–47 in). It can grow in regions with an annual rainfall below 400 mm, but in such cases it depends largely on ground water levels. Neem can grow in many different types of soil, but it thrives best on well drained deep and sandy soils. It is a typical tropical to subtropical tree and exists at annual mean temperatures between 21–32 °C (70–90 °F). It can tolerate high to very high temperatures and does not tolerate temperature below 4 °C (39 °F). Neem is a life-giving tree, especially for the dry coastal, southern districts of India and Pakistan. It is one of the very few shade-giving trees that thrive in the drought-prone areas. The trees are not at all delicate about the water quality and thrive on the merest trickle of water, whatever the quality. In India and tropical countries where the Indian diaspora has reached, it is very common to see neem trees used for shade lining the streets, around temples, schools & other such public buildings or in most people's back yards. In many countries such as Ecuador, Haiti and Venezuela the shade is the principal benefit so far commonly attributed to the neem. In very dry areas the trees are planted in large tracts of land.

Weed status [edit]

Neem is considered a weed in many areas, including some parts of the Middle East, and most of Sub-Saharan Africa including West Africa and Indian Ocean states. Ecologically, it survives well in similar environments to its own, for example replacing the babul acacia tree from India with African [[acacia]

Uses [edit]

Neem tree
Neem tree in the Philippines

As a vegetable [edit]

The tender shoots and flowers of the neem tree are eaten as a vegetable in India. A souplike dish called Veppampoo Rasam (Tamil) (translated as "neem flower rasam") made of the flower of neem is prepared in Tamil Nadu. In West Bengal, young neem leaves are fried in oil with tiny pieces of eggplant (brinjal). The dish is called nim begun and is the first item during a Bengali meal that acts as an appetizer.[2] It is eaten with rice.

Neem is used in parts of mainland Southeast Asia, particularly in Cambodia, Laos (where it is called kadao), Thailand (where it is known as sadao or sdao), Myanmar (where it is known as tamar) and Vietnam (where it is known as s?u dâu and is used to cook the salad g?i s?u dâu). Even lightly cooked, the flavour is quite bitter and the food is not enjoyed by all inhabitants of these nations, though it is believed to be good for one's health. Neem gum is a rich source of protein. In Myanmar, young neem leaves and flower buds are boiled with tamarind fruit to soften its bitterness and eaten as a vegetable. Pickled neem leaves are also eaten with tomato and fish paste sauce in Myanmar.

Traditional medicinal use [edit]

In India, the plant is variously known as "Sacred Tree," "Heal All," "Nature's Drugstore," "Village Pharmacy" and "Panacea for all diseases". Products made from neem trees have been used in India for over two millennia for their medicinal properties: neem products are believed to be anthelmintic, antifungal, antidiabetic, antibacterial, antiviral, contraceptive and sedative.[3][unreliable source?] It is considered a major component in Ayurvedic and Unani medicine and is particularly prescribed for skin disease.[4] Neem oil is also used for healthy hair, to improve liver function, detoxify the blood, and balance blood sugar levels, and is considered to have no side effects.[5]

Safety issues [edit]

There has been reports that Neem oil can cause some form of toxic encephalopathy and ophthalmopathy if consumed in large quantities. [6]

Pest and disease control Neem is a key ingredient in non-pesticidal management (NPM), providing a natural alternative to synthetic pesticides. Neem seeds are ground into a powder that is soaked overnight in water and sprayed onto the crop. To be effective, it is necessary to apply repeatedly, at least every ten days. Neem does not directly kill insects on the crop. It acts as an anti-feedant, repellent, and egg-laying deterrent, protecting the crop from damage. The insects starve and die within a few days. Neem also suppresses the hatching of pest insects from their eggs. Neem cake is often sold as a fertilizer.[7]

Other uses [edit]

  • Neem oil is used for preparing cosmetics such as soap, neem shampoo, balms and creams as well as toothpaste.
  • The stem of neem is used as a toothbrush and is called datun.
  • Besides its use in traditional Indian medicine, the neem tree is of great importance for its anti-desertification properties and possibly as a good carbon dioxide sink.[citation needed]
  • Practitioners of traditional Indian medicine recommend that patients with chicken pox sleep on neem leaves.[citation needed]
  • Neem gum is used as a bulking agent and for the preparation of special purpose food.
  • Traditionally, slender neem branches have been chewed to clean one's teeth. Neem twigs are still collected and sold in markets for this use, and in rural India one often sees youngsters in the streets chewing on neem twigs.
  • Neem blossoms are used in Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka to prepare Ugadi pachhadi. "Bevina hoovina gojju" (a type of curry prepared with neem blossoms) is common in Karnataka throughout the year. Dried blossoms are used when fresh blossoms are not available. In Tamil Nadu, a rasam (veppam poo rasam) made with neem blossoms is a culinary specialty.
  • A mixture of neem flowers and bella (jaggery or unrefined brown sugar) is prepared and offered to friends and relatives, symbolic of sweet and bitter events in the upcoming new year.
  • Cosmetics : Neem is perceived in India as a beauty aid. Powdered leaves are a major component of at least one widely used facial cream. Purified neem oil is also used in nail polish & other cosmetics.
  • Bird repellent:Neem leaf boiled water can be used as a very cost effective bird repellent measure,especially for sparrow.
  • Lubricants : Neem oil is non drying and it resists degradation better than most vegetable oils. In rural India, it is commonly used to grease cart wheels.
  • Fertilizers : Neem has demonstrated considerable potential as a fertilizer. Neem cake is widely used to fertilize cash crops particularly sugarcane & vegetables. Ploughed into the soil, it protects plant roots from nematodes & white ants, probably due to its contents of the residual limonoids. In Karnataka, people grow the tree mainly for its green leaves & twigs, which they puddle into flooded rice fields before the rice seedlings are transplanted.
  • Resin : An exudate can be tapped from the trunk by wounding the bark. This high protein material is not a substitute for polysaccharide gum, such as gum arabic. It may however, have a potential as a food additive, and it is widely used in South Asia as "Neem glue".
  • Bark : Neem bark contains 14% tannin, an amount similar to that in conventional tannin yielding trees (such as Acacia decurrens). Moreover, it yields a strong, coarse fibre commonly woven into ropes in the villages of India.
  • Honey : In parts of Asia neem honey commands premium prices & people promote apiculture / apiary by planting neem trees.
  • Soap : India's supply of neem oil is now used mostly by soap manufacturers. Although much of it goes to small scale speciality soaps, large scale producers also use it, mainly because it is cheap. Generally, the crude oil is used to produce coarse laundry soaps.

Association with Hindu festivals in India [edit]

Neem leaf or bark is considered an effective pitta pacifier due to its bitter taste. Hence, it is traditionally recommended during early summer in Ayurveda (that is, the month of Chaitra as per the Hindu Calendar which usually falls in the month of March – April).

In the Indian states of Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka, Neem flowers are very popular for their use in 'Ugadi Pachhadi' (soup-like pickle), which is made on Ugadi day. In Karnataka, a small amount of Neem and Jaggery(Bevu-Bella) is consumed on Ugadi day, the Kannada new year, indicating that one should take in both the bitter and sweet things in life.

During Gudi Padva, which is the New Year in the state of Maharashtra, the ancient practice of drinking a small quantity of neem juice or paste on that day, before starting festivities, is found. As in many Hindu festivals and their association with some food to avoid negative side-effects of the season or change of seasons, neem juice is associated with Gudi Padva to remind people to use it during that particular month or season to pacify summer pitta.

In Tamilnadu during the summer months of April to June, the Mariamman temple festival is a thousand year old tradition. The Neem leaves and flowers are the most important part of the Mariamman festival. The goddess Mariamman statue will be garlanded with Neem leaves and flowers. During most occasions of celebrations and weddings the people of Tamilnadu adorn their surroundings with the Neem leaves and flowers as a form of decoration and also to ward off evil spirits and infections.

In the eastern coastal state of Odisha the famous Jagannath temple deities are made up of Neem heart wood along with some other essential oils and powders.

Native of Chhattisgarh with Neem branches and leaves for Hareli Festival

Chemical compounds [edit]

Salimuzzaman Siddiqui was the first scientist to bring the anthelmintic, antifungal, antibacterial, and antiviral constituents of the Neem tree to the attention of natural products chemists. In 1942, he extracted three bitter compounds from neem oil, which he named as nimbin, nimbinin, and nimbidin respectively.[8] The process involved extracting the water insoluble components with ether, petrol ether, ethyl acetate and dilute alcohol. The provisional naming was nimbin (sulphur-free crystalline product with melting point at 205 °C, empirical composition C7H10O2), nimbinin (with similar principle, melting at 192 °C), and nimbidin (cream-coloured containing amorphous sulphur, melting at 90–100 °C). Siddiqui identified nimbidin as the main active antibacterial ingredient, and the highest yielding bitter component in the neem oil.[9] These compounds are stable and found in substantial quantities in the Neem. They also serve as natural insecticides.[10]

Genome and Transcriptomes [edit]

Neem genome and transcriptomes from various organs have been sequenced, analyzed and published by Ganit Labs in Bangalore, India.[11][12]

Patent controversy [edit]

In 1995, the European Patent Office (EPO) granted a patent on an anti-fungal product derived from neem to the US Department of Agriculture and W. R. Grace and Company.[13] The Indian government challenged the patent when it was granted, claiming that the process for which the patent had been granted had actually been in use in India for over 2,000 years. In 2000, the EPO ruled in India's favour but W. R. Grace appealed, claiming that prior art about the product had never been published in a scientific journal. On 8 March 2005, that appeal was lost and the EPO revoked the Neem patent.[13]

Gallery [edit]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Azadirachta indica

See also [edit]

References [edit]

  1. ^ "The Plant List: A Working List of All Plant Species". 
  2. ^ "Neem Baigan". 
  3. ^ Medicinal properties of Neem
  4. ^ S. Zillur Rahman and M. Shamim Jairajpuri. Neem in Unani Medicine. Neem Research and Development Society of Pesticide Science, India, New Delhi, February 1993, p. 208-219. Edited by N.S. Randhawa and B.S. Parmar. 2nd revised edition (chapter 21), 1996
  5. ^ "Neem". Tamilnadu.com. 6 December 2012. 
  6. ^ MR Imaging Findings of Neem Oil Poisoning M.V. Bhaskara, S.J. Pramoda, M.U. Jeevikaa, P.K. Chandana and G. Shetteppa http://www.ajnr.org/
  7. ^ Material Fact Sheets — Neem
  8. ^ Ganguli (2002). p. 1304
  9. ^ Siddiqui (1942). pp. 278–279
  10. ^ Sidhu et al. (2004), pp. 69-75.
  11. ^ Krishnan, N; Swetansu Pattnaik, S. A. Deepak, Arun K. Hariharan, Prakhar Gaur, Rakshit Chaudhary, Prachi Jain, Srividya Vaidyanathan, P. G. Bharath Krishna and Binay Panda (2011-12-25). "De novo sequencing and assembly of Azadirachta indica fruit transcriptome". Current Science 101 (12): 1553–1561. 
  12. ^ Krishnan, N; Swetansu Pattnaik, Prachi Jain, Prakhar Gaur, Rakshit Choudhary, Srividya Vaidyanathan, Sa Deepak, Arun K Hariharan, PG Bharath Krishna, Jayalakshmi Nair, Linu Varghese, Naveen K Valivarthi, Kunal Dhas, Krishna Ramaswamy and Binay Panda (2012-09-09). "A Draft of the Genome and Four Transcriptomes of a Medicinal and Pesticidal Angiosperm Azadirachta indica". BMC Genomics 13. doi:10.1186/1471-2164-13-464. 
  13. ^ a b "India wins landmark patent battle". BBC. 9 March 2005. Retrieved 2 October 2009. 

Ghorbanian M, Razzaghi-Abyaneh M, Allameh A, Shams-Ghahfarokhi M, and Qorbani M (2007). Study on the effect of neem (Azadirachta indica A. juss) leaf extract on the growth of Aspergillus parasiticus and production of aflatoxin by it at different incubation times. Mycoses, 51: 35-39.

Razzaghi-Abyaneh M., Allameh A., Tiraihi T., Shams-Ghahfarokhi M. and Ghorbanian M. (2005). Morphological alterations in toxigenic Aspergillus parasiticus exposed to neem (Azadirachta indica) leaf and seed aqueous extracts. Mycopathologia, 159: 565-570.

Allameh, A., Razzaghi. M., Shams, M., Rezaee, MB. and Jaimand, K. (2002). Effects of neem leaf extract on production of aflatoxins and activities of fatty acid synthetase, isocitrate dehydrogenase and glutathione S-transferase Aspergillus parasiticus. Mycopathologia, 154; 79-84.

http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2010%5C04%5C14%5Cstory_14-4-2010_pg12_3

External links [edit]

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