neem

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• neem
• Neem Tree
• Indian-lilac
• nimtree
• Serowe-Palapye

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Melia indica
• Melia hasskarlii
• Antelaea canescens
• Antelaea javanica
• Melia pinnata
• Melia fraxinifolia
• Melia parviflora
• Melia azadirachta
• Claderia parviflora
• Azadirachta indica var. siamensis
• Azadirachta indica subsp. vartakii
• Azadirachta indica var. minor

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant, Azadirachta indica, belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta. Within the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae, it is classified under the order Sapindales and the family Meliaceae. Ultimately, it is identified by the genus Azadirachta.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant, known scientifically as Azadirachta indica, exhibits a specific presence across various regions of West Tropical Africa. Within this part of the continent, its distribution includes the nation of Burkina. It is also found in the coastal and inland areas of the Gambia. Furthermore, the species spans across Ghana and the territory of Guinea-Bissau. Finally, its geographical range extends into the country of Guinea.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Azadirachta indica is characterized by its adaptability to various terrains, typically thriving within an elevational range of 200 to 1300 m AMSL. This species exhibits a strong capacity for integration into human-modified landscapes, as it is frequently grown in and around villages. Due to its robust nature, the plant has demonstrated significant ecological resilience, having escaped cultivation and regenerated plentifully in specific locations, such as the Mkwaja Ranch headquarters.

Elevational range max:

1300 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

200 m AMSL

Habitat :

frequently grown in and around villages, has escaped and regenerated plentifully in some locations (e.g. Mkwaja Ranch headquarters)

Life history

The life history of Azadirachta indica is characterized by its status as a perennial organism, allowing it to persist and thrive across many years within its ecosystem. As a phanerophyte, the plant maintains its photosynthetic organs on elevated woody stems, a structural strategy that defines its growth habit and life form. Throughout its developmental stages, it exhibits an evergreen deciduousness, consistently retaining its foliage to support continuous metabolic processes, though it may undergo seasonal variations in leaf density. This combination of a long-lived lifecycle and a robust phanerophyte life form enables the species to establish a significant presence in its natural habitat.

Deciduousness :

evergreen

Life form :

phanerophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Azadirachta indica is characterized by its robust, woody growth form, primarily functioning as a large, self-supporting tree. It is a strictly terrestrial plant, neither aquatic nor epiphytic, and maintains an independent biological existence without parasitic tendencies. The architecture of the plant allows it to reach significant dimensions, with an average plant height of approximately 12.5 m, though it can attain a maximum height of up to 24.38 m. As a woody species, it exhibits a sturdy structural development suitable for its role as a prominent tree in its ecosystem.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

tree

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

24.38429651 m

Plant height mean:

12.5 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Azadirachta indica is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, which dictates its carbon fixation process and metabolic efficiency in varying light conditions. As a non-nitrogen-fixing species, it does not possess the symbiotic mechanisms required to convert atmospheric nitrogen into a usable form, meaning it relies entirely on the availability of nitrogenous compounds within the soil for its nutritional requirements. This physiological profile influences its resource acquisition strategies and its overall growth patterns in diverse ecological niches.

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Reproduction

The reproduction of Azadirachta indica is characterized by a biotic pollination syndrome, primarily driven by animal vectors rather than abiotic factors. Specifically, the plant relies on insect pollination, with bees playing a significant role in the transfer of pollen. The species exhibits a reproductive strategy where self-fertilization is absent, necessitating cross-pollination to ensure genetic diversity. Following successful fertilization, the plant produces seeds with varying physical properties; the seed mass typically ranges from a minimum of 0.1587 g to a maximum of 0.29 g, with an observed mean seed mass of approximately 0.22083375 g.

Pollination syndrome :

insect

Pollination syndrome :

bee

Pollination syndrome :

biotic

Seed mass max:

0.29 g

Seed mass mean:

0.22083375 g

Seed mass min:

0.1587 g

Self fertilization :

absent

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Azadirachta indica has 6 reported plant parts identified across 114 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include leaf, seed, stem, fruit, flower.

Leaf

1. Saudi journal of biological sciences
2. Planta medica
3. Avicenna journal of phytomedicine
4. Journal of ethnopharmacology
5. Journal of Ayurveda and integrative medicine

Seed

1. Seminars in cancer biology
2. Journal of ethnobiology and ethnomedicine
3. Applied radiation and isotopes : including data, instrumentation and methods for use in agriculture, industry and medicine
4. International journal of molecular sciences
5. Current medicinal chemistry. Anti-cancer agents

Stem

1. Pharmaceutical nanotechnology
2. Applied radiation and isotopes : including data, instrumentation and methods for use in agriculture, industry and medicine
3. Natural product research
4. Mycoses
5. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Fruit

1. Pharmaceutical nanotechnology
2. Seminars in cancer biology
3. Applied radiation and isotopes : including data, instrumentation and methods for use in agriculture, industry and medicine
4. Natural product communications
5. Current medicinal chemistry. Anti-cancer agents

Flower

1. Natural product research
2. Seminars in cancer biology
3. Journal of ethnobiology and ethnomedicine
4. International journal of molecular sciences
5. Current medicinal chemistry. Anti-cancer agents

Root

1. Letters in applied microbiology
2. Pharmaceutical nanotechnology
3. Seminars in cancer biology
4. Ancient science of life
5. Current medicinal chemistry. Anti-cancer agents

Chemicals

Azadirachta indica has 213 reported phytochemicals identified across 114 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include azadirachtin, Nimbolide, Flavonoids, Nimbin, Azadiradione.

azadirachtin

1. Dr. Duke
2. Journal of natural medicines
3. AMB Express
4. Annals of translational medicine
5. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Nimbolide

1. Dr. Duke
2. Planta medica
3. Journal of natural medicines
4. Journal of food science and technology
5. Journal of environmental pathology, toxicology and oncology : official organ of the International Society for Environmental Toxicology and Cancer

Flavonoids

1. Scientific reports
2. Antibiotics (Basel, Switzerland)
3. Journal of parasitic diseases : official organ of the Indian Society for Parasitology
4. Frontiers in veterinary science
5. Indian journal of pharmaceutical sciences

Nimbin

1. Dr. Duke
2. Journal of natural medicines
3. Annals of translational medicine
4. Journal of food science and technology
5. Food science & nutrition

Azadiradione

1. Dr. Duke
2. Journal of food science and technology
3. Antibiotics (Basel, Switzerland)
4. Journal of natural products
5. Gene

gedunin

1. Dr. Duke
2. Current topics in medicinal chemistry
3. Journal of food science and technology
4. 3 Biotech
5. Antibiotics (Basel, Switzerland)

quercetin

1. Dr. Duke
2. Journal of natural medicines
3. European review for medical and pharmacological sciences
4. Food science & nutrition
5. Journal of ethnopharmacology

NEEM OIL

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology
2. Human & experimental toxicology
3. Proceedings. Biological sciences
4. Journal of Indian Prosthodontic Society
5. Journal of the Egyptian Society of Parasitology

Tannins

1. Antibiotics (Basel, Switzerland)
2. Journal of parasitic diseases : official organ of the Indian Society for Parasitology
3. Frontiers in veterinary science
4. Indian journal of pharmaceutical sciences
5. Saudi journal of biological sciences

Saponins

1. Scientific reports
2. Journal of parasitic diseases : official organ of the Indian Society for Parasitology
3. Frontiers in veterinary science
4. Indian journal of pharmaceutical sciences
5. Saudi journal of biological sciences

Activities

Azadirachta indica has 402 reported activities identified across 114 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antioxidant, Antibacterial, Antiviral, Antimalarial, Antimicrobial.

Antioxidant

1. Dr. Duke
2. International journal of food sciences and nutrition
3. Journal of food science and technology
4. Journal of environmental pathology, toxicology and oncology : official organ of the International Society for Environmental Toxicology and Cancer
5. 3 Biotech

Antibacterial

1. Dr. Duke
2. Antibiotics (Basel, Switzerland)
3. AMB Express
4. Veterinary medicine and science
5. Journal of food science and technology

Antiviral

1. Dr. Duke
2. Current pharmaceutical biotechnology
3. Frontiers in pharmacology
4. Journal of natural medicines
5. AMB Express

Antimalarial

1. Dr. Duke
2. Current topics in medicinal chemistry
3. Journal of ethnopharmacology
4. AMB Express
5. Acta parasitologica

Antimicrobial

1. AMB Express
2. Journal of Ayurveda and integrative medicine
3. Journal of environmental pathology, toxicology and oncology : official organ of the International Society for Environmental Toxicology and Cancer
4. Planta medica
5. Journal of clinical and diagnostic research : JCDR

Anticancer

1. Dr. Duke
2. Medicinal research reviews
3. Natural product research
4. Antibiotics (Basel, Switzerland)
5. The Enzymes

Antifungal

1. Recent advances in anti-infective drug discovery
2. IET nanobiotechnology
3. Food science & nutrition
4. Mycoses
5. Current medicinal chemistry. Anti-cancer agents

Antidiabetic

1. Dr. Duke
2. Journal of Ayurveda and integrative medicine
3. Natural product research
4. Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM
5. Journal of integrative medicine

Antifertility

1. Dr. Duke
2. Journal of the Chinese Medical Association : JCMA
3. Proceedings. Biological sciences
4. Planta medica
5. Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology

Hepatoprotective

1. Dr. Duke
2. Annals of translational medicine
3. Indian journal of experimental biology
4. Planta medica
5. Advances in mind-body medicine

Medicinal Uses

Azadirachta indica has 189 reported medicinal uses identified across 114 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include cancer, malaria, inflammation, SARS-CoV-2, antimalarial.

Most Reported Uses

Preparations