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Ingredient Insights: Neem

Neem (Azadirachta indica) is an extraordinarily diverse tree found in semi-tropical and tropical regions. It tolerates high temperature very well and doesn’t do well in the cold. People use its leaves, seeds, and bark to make medicines and remedies.
Riana Lynn
3 min read
July 24, 2024
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Neem (Azadirachta indica) is an extraordinarily diverse tree found in semi-tropical and tropical regions. It tolerates high temperature very well and doesn’t do well in the cold. People use its leaves, seeds, and bark to make medicines and remedies.

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Neem (Azadirachta indica) is an extraordinarily diverse tree found in semi-tropical and tropical regions. It tolerates high temperature very well and doesn’t do well in the cold. People use its leaves, seeds, and bark to make medicines and remedies.

What is Neem for?

  • Cardiovascular disease
  • Intestinal health
  • Antiparasitic (antimicrobial)
  • Anti-inflammatory
  • Eye disorders
  • Gum disease
  • Antiviral
  • Natural insecticide

The benefits of Neem are numerous, and the list can be expounded upon.

The earliest Sanskrit medical writings refer to the benefits of its fruits, seeds, oil, leaves, roots, and bark.

Neem Popularity

Widely used in India and other parts of Asia, Neem is found to be an efficacious antiseptic and natural medicine. Especially in India, Neem has been used for thousands of years.

Not many CPG companies in the US food industry are currently using Neem.

However, many hygiene products – such as toothpastes, shampoos, soaps, and cleaners – use Neem for its many benefits. Most natural pharmacies and grocery stores will stock a few Neem products.

Further Information

Known as the “Miracle tree” and “Arishta” (Sanskrit for Sickness reliever), Azadirachta indica (Neem), belonging to the Meliaceae family, from prehistoric Indian subcontinent, for its multitudinous medicinal properties (Tanguturi et al. 2020). Different compounds with biological activity have been reported obtained from A. indica as alkaloids, flavonoids, triterpenes, phenolic compounds, carotenoids, steroids, and ketones. Its branches and leaves are often used to produce essential oils and metabolic extracts employing different organic solvents (Ferreira et al. 2019).

One of the major biological active compounds researched in Neem is Nimbidin. The Nimbidin is extracted from the oil of neem seed kernels and possess several therapeutic properties as anti-inflammatory, Antipyretic activity, Hypoglycemic effect, Antiulcer effect, Antibacterial and antifungal effect. Several other bioactive compounds like Azadirachtin and Nimbolide are related with antioxidant and antimalarial activity (Tanguturi et al. 2020).

neem-therapeutic-applications

Nowadays, biotechnological applications of Neem in agriculture, environment, and pharmaceutical areas are researching topic trends. The bioinsecticide agent of Neem  is effective in controlling mosquitoes that transmit human diseases such as Aedes spp., Anopheles gambiae, Anopheles culicifacies, Bamisia tabaci, Culex quinquefasciatus, and some arthropods.

On the other hand, a biotechnological tool Based on the extraction of different bioactive oils from Neem, it is possible to apply them as fertilizers and thus can improve soil quality for better agricultural production  (Ferreira et al. 2019).  

(Tanguturi et al. 2020).

neem-biotechnological-tool

About the Author
Riana Lynn

Scientist. Nutrition Leader. Founder of Journey Foods

Frequently asked questions

Structured Q&A  marked up with FAQ Page schema so it can be surfaced and cited by Al engines and search.

Is plant based reformulation actually cheaper than 
animal protein?

In Journey Al's 12 month dataset, the median plant protein reformulation came in -6.5% on raw material cost versus an animal protein control the first year that line went negative, driven by Tier 1 isolate suppliers reaching spec parity.

How much does plant based reformulation improve 
nutrition scores?

In Journey Al's 12 month dataset, the median plant protein reformulation came in -6.5% on raw material cost versus an animal protein control the first year that line went negative, driven by Tier 1 isolate suppliers
reaching spec parity.

What's the supply chain risk of switching?

In Journey Al's 12 month dataset, the median plant protein reformulation came in -6.5% on raw material cost versus an animal protein control the first year that line went negative, driven by Tier 1 isolate suppliers
reaching spec parity.

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