Product

Neem Leaves

Azadirachta indica or neem is a tree prevalent in South Asia. The bark, leaves, flowers, and seeds have been utilized as food and medicine for centuries. In Ayurvedic medicine, neem is used externally for skin conditions, internally for gastrointestinal ailments, and for oral hygiene. Several forms of neem extracts are marketed as dietary supplements.

Neem has antimicrobial activity and is used against a wide range of pests and parasites (1). It is effective against lice (2) and has antiretroviral activity (5). Neem also reduces plaque and decreases oral bacterial counts (3), but data are conflicting (4) . Its extracts were found to have anti-secretory and anti-ulcer properties (6), and to improve glycemic control in patients with metabolic syndrome .  Neem may also be effective in the treatment of cholera and diarrhea (7).

A few studies have examined the anticancer potential of neem. An ethanolic extract of neem leaves reduced the incidence of chemical-induced gastric tumors in mice  (9), and neem-treated monocytes induced apoptosis in cervical (10) and prostate cancer cells (11).

References

  1. Schmahl G, Al-Rasheid KA, Abdel-Ghaffar F, Klimpel S, Mehlhorn H. The efficacy of neem seed extracts (Tre-san, MiteStop on a broad spectrum of pests and parasites. Parasitol Res. Jul 2010;107(2):261-269.
  2. Abdel-Ghaffar F, Semmler M. Efficacy of neem seed extract shampoo on head lice of naturally infected humans in Egypt. Parasitol Res. Jan 2007;100(2):329-332.
  3. Pai MR, Acharya LD, Udupa N. Evaluation of antiplaque activity of Azadirachta indica leaf extract gel—a 6-week clinical study. J Ethnopharmacol. Jan 2004;90(1):99-103.
  4. Sharma S, Saimbi CS, Koirala B, Shukla R. Effect of various mouthwashes on the levels of interleukin-2 and interferon-gamma in chronic gingivitis. J Clin Pediatr Dent. Winter 2008;32(2):111-114.
  5. Udeinya IJ, Mbah AU, Chijioke CP, Shu EN. An antimalarial extract from neem leaves is antiretroviral. Trans R Soc Trop Med Hyg. Jul 2004;98(7):435-437. 6.
  6. Bandyopadhyay U, Biswas K, Sengupta A, et al. Clinical studies on the effect of Neem (Azadirachta indica) bark extract on gastric secretion and gastroduodenal ulcer. Life Sci. Oct 29 2004;75(24):2867-2878.
  7. Thakurta P, Bhowmik P, Mukherjee S, et al. Antibacterial, antisecretory and antihemorrhagic activity of Azadirachta indica used to treat cholera and diarrhea in India. J Ethnopharmacol. May 22 2007;111(3):607-612.
  8. National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. Margosa Oil. LiverTox: Clinical and Research Information on Drug-Induced Liver Injury. 2012-2014 Jan 30.
  9. Gangar SC, Koul A. Azadirachta indica modulates carcinogen biotransformation and reduced glutathione at peri-initiation phase of benzo(a)pyrene induced murine forestomach tumorigenesis. Phytotherapy Res. Sep 2008;22(9):1229-1238.
  10. Vasenwala SM, Seth R, Haider N, et al. A study on antioxidant and apoptotic effect of Azadirachta Indica (neem) in cases of cervical cancer. Arch Gynecol Obstet. 2012 Nov;286(5):1255-9.
  11. Kumar S, Suresh PK, Vijayababu MR, Arunkumar A, Arunakaran J. Anticancer effects of ethanolic neem leaf extract on prostate cancer cell line (PC-3). J Ethnopharmacol. Apr 21 2006;105(1-2):246-250.