Medicinal tree Neem- Margosa tree

Neem (नीम) is a native tree of India, found in every parts in India especially in semi-arid conditions. The Neem Tree is an incredible plant that has been declared the “Tree of the 21st century” by the United Nations. In India, it is variously known as “Divine Tree”, “Life giving tree”, “Nature”s Drugstore”, “Village Pharmacy” and “Panacea for all diseases”. It is one of the major components in Ayurvedic medicine, which has been practiced in India since many centuries. The neem is an ancient Indian cure-all due to its antibacterial, antifungal, antiviral, antihistamine and antiseptic properties.The neem leaves, flowers, seeds, roots, bark and fruits are utilized to treat inflammation, infections, skin diseases and for dental care.

Common Name
Neem (नीम)
Botanical name: Azadirachta indica
Latin name: Melia azaderach
English name : Margosa tree
Sanskrit: Nimbah
Hindi: Neem

It is a tall evergreen tree with the small bright green leaves. It is up to 100 feet tall. It blossoms in spring with the small white flowers. It has a straight trunk. Its bark is hard rough and scaly, fissured even in small trees. The colour of the bark is brown grayish. The leaves are alternate and consists of several leaflets with serrated edges. Its flowers are small and white in colour. The loive like edible fruit is oval, round and thin skinned.

Medicinal uses : The indigenous people of Nilgiris consume the dried and powered tubulers of the terrestrial orchids as an energizing tonic. Neem also holds medicinal value. Each part of neem is used in the medicines. It has been used in Ayurvedic medicines for more than 4000 years. Neem oil extracted from its seeds is used in medicines, pest control and cosmetics etc. Its leaves are used in the treat Chickenpox.. According to the Hindus, it is believed that the Goddess of the chickenpox, Sithala lives in the Neem tree. Neem tea is usually taken to reduce the headache and fever. Its flowers are used to cure intestinal problems. Neem bark acts as an analgesic and can cure high fever as of malaria. Even the skin diseases can be cured from the Neem leaves. Indians even believe that the Neem can even purify diseases.

Other uses : People in India use its twigs to brush their teeth. Neem is considered as the useful tree in rehabilitating the waste land areas. Neem seed pulp is useful for methane gas production. It is also useful as carbohydrate which is rich base for other industrial fermentations. Neem bark contains tannins which are used in tanning and dyeing. In south India its wood is used to make the furniture. The bark of the yields the fiber that is woven into ropes. Neem cake is widely used in India as fertilizer for sugarcane, vegetable and other cash crops. Many countries have been consistently growing the Neem tree against the global warming. The worldwide Neem Foundation has helped in making the people aware about the importance of neem and its uses globally.

Chemical Compounds in Neem

The chemical compounds that have been identified and scientists feel that there are many more compounds yet to be identified in neem. Other then sodium, potassium, salts, it contains chloriphyle, calcium, phosphorus, iron, thiamine, riboflasium, nicocin, vitamin C, carotene, and oxalic acid. The chemicals classified are:

Nimbin: anti-inflammatory, anti-pyretic, anti-histamine, anti-fungal
Nimbidin: anti-bacterial, anti-ulcer, analgesic, anti-arrhythmic, anti-fungal
Ninbidol: anti-tubercular, anti-protozoan, anti-pyretic
Gedunin: vasodilator, anti-malarial, anti-fungal
Sodium nimbinate: diuretic, spermicide, anti-arthritic
Quercetin: anti-protozoal
Salannin: insect repellent
Azadirachtin: insect repellent, anti-feedant, anti-hormonal

Other chemicals that form its therapeutic value are:

1. Limonoids 2. Terpenoids and steroids 3. Tetranortarpenoids
4. Fatty acid derivatives like margosinone and margosinolone
5. Coumarins like scopoletin, dihydrosocoumarins 6.Hydrocarbons like docosane, pentacosane, hetacosane, octacosane etc. 7.Sulphur compounds 8. Phenolics 9.Flavonoglycosides 10. Tannins

The highest concentrations of the active ingredients are found in the seed and oil, however the active ingredients are also found in lesser amounts in the bark and the leaves. Traditionally in Ayurveda the fresh leaves and twigs were used on a daily basis as a preventative for many conditions, including tooth decay, gum disease, malaria, etc. When a serious condition was treated a concentrated paste of the leaves or strong decoction of the leaves and/or the bark was used, for blood purification (in case of bacterial, fungal, or viral infections), malaria, fever, arthritis, rheumatism, and many more. It was also used as a protective agent from nature’s pests both as an insect repellant and insecticide that is both safe and harmless to humans. Traditionally Neem oil was applied externally to the hair, scalp, and skin for parasites and as an insect repellant. It was also massaged into arthritic joints, after being slightly warmed, to relieve pain and inflammation.

According to Hakeem Hashmi, the well respected unani practitioner, margosa tree, due to its countless uses and endless medicinal values in elimination of innumerable diseases is considered a treasure house of various medicines and can be used an enjoyed by one and all.

To enjoy the benefit margosa Hashmi has come up with neem capsules, in which all the effective virtues of margosa are intact MSN Search