Melia azadirachta L.; M. indica (A.Juss.) Brandis; and others Meliaceae Arista; bakam; margosa; nim Azadirachti folium/cortex/semen/oleum Most parts of the neem tree are used medicinally, commonly the leaves, bark, seeds and seed oil (WHO 2007). The active components are considered to be several different types of limonoids and include the azadirachtin, azadiradione, gedunin and nimbin types. There are many other types of compounds present, including flavonoids, coumarins, glycoproteins and tannins (Biswas et al. 2002l; Kikuchi et al. 2011; WHO 2007). Some studies on the clinical efficacy of external application against head lice are available to support this use (Abdel-Ghaffar and Semmler 2007; Abdel-Ghaffar et al. 2012). There is a lack of clinical trial evidence to support many of the traditional medicinal uses of neem, but the plant is used so widely in Asia that there is a great deal of anecdotal evidence. In vitro studies have demonstrated the effectiveness of neem seed extract preparations against head lice and their eggs (Abdel-Ghaffar et al. 2012; Heukelbach et al. 2006; Mehlhorn et al. 2011). Azadirachtin is a feeding deterrent and disrupts the insect moulting process, preventing maturation of larvae, as well as having direct insecticidal activity (Biswas et al. 2002).
Neem
Azadirachta indica A.Juss.
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