Azadirachta indica
Neem
Azadirachta indica, commonly known as Neem, is a versatile medicinal powerhouse native to the Indian subcontinent. Renowned for its potent antibacterial, antifungal, and anti-inflammatory properties, every part of this "village pharmacy" tree—from leaves to bark—offers therapeutic benefits, making it a cornerstone of traditional Ayurvedic medicine and holistic healing.
- Scientific name: Azadirachta indica
- Family: Meliaceae
- Native range: Africa
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.
| Rank | Classification | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Kingdom | Plantae | WCVP |
| Phylum | Streptophyta | WCVP |
| Class | Equisetopsida | WCVP |
| Subclass | Magnoliidae | WCVP |
| Order | Sapindales | WCVP |
| Family | Meliaceae | WCVP |
| Genus | Azadirachta | WCVP |
Common Names
This plant, scientifically known as Azadirachta indica, is recognized by various common names across different linguistic regions. In Simplified Chinese, it is referred to as 印度苦楝树 (zh-hans) and 印度苦楝树 (zh-cn), as well as 印度苦楝树 (zh-sg) in Singapore. In Traditional Chinese, the name is written as 印度苦楝樹 (zh-hant), which is also the standard form used in Hong Kong (zh-hk).| Language | Common Name | Source |
|---|---|---|
| zh-hans | 印度苦楝树 | Wikidata |
| zh-hant | 印度苦楝樹 | Wikidata |
| zh-hk | 印度苦楝樹 | Wikidata |
| zh-cn | 印度苦楝树 | Wikidata |
| zh-sg | 印度苦楝树 | Wikidata |
| zh-tw | 印度苦楝樹 | Wikidata |
| pl | Miodla indyjska | Wikidata |
| udm | Ним | Wikidata |
| so | Geed Hindi | Wikidata |
| he | אזדרכת הודית | Wikidata |
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.
| Region | Area | Source |
|---|---|---|
| West Tropical Africa | Burkina | WCVP |
| West Tropical Africa | Gambia | WCVP |
| West Tropical Africa | Ghana | WCVP |
| West Tropical Africa | Guinea-Bissau | WCVP |
| West Tropical Africa | Guinea | WCVP |
| West Tropical Africa | Mauritania | WCVP |
| West Tropical Africa | Nigeria | WCVP |
| West Tropical Africa | Niger | WCVP |
| West Tropical Africa | Togo | WCVP |
| West-Central Tropical Africa | Central African Republic | WCVP |
Plant Parts
This plant, commonly known as Neem, utilizes various components for its diverse medicinal properties. The leaves are the most frequently used part, often prepared as a paste or infusion, while even a single leaf can provide potent antibacterial benefits. The seeds are highly valued for their oil, which is rich in bioactive compounds, and the bark is often employed in traditional remedies to treat skin conditions and inflammation. Additionally, the fruits, known as nimbolant, contribute to the plant's overall therapeutic profile, making every part of the Azadirachta indica essential to its reputation as a "pharmacy in a tree."- Total parts
- 47
- Scientific sources
- 154
| Plant Part | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| leaves | 37 | ★★★★★ |
| leaf | 12 | ★★★★★ |
| seeds | 11 | ★★★★★ |
| bark | 10 | ★★★★★ |
| fruits | 8 | ★★★★☆ |
| stem bark | 6 | ★★★☆☆ |
| seed | 5 | ★★★☆☆ |
| flowers | 5 | ★★★☆☆ |
| roots | 4 | ★★☆☆☆ |
| leaf extracts | 4 | ★★☆☆☆ |
Chemicals
Azadirachta indica has 183 reported phytochemicals identified across 346 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include azadirachtin, flavonoids, nimbolide, nimbin, gedunin.
- Total chemicals
- 183
- Scientific sources
- 346
Most Reported Compounds
| Compound | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| azadirachtin | 17 | ★★★★★ |
| flavonoids | 17 | ★★★★★ |
| nimbolide | 16 | ★★★★★ |
| nimbin | 12 | ★★★★★ |
| gedunin | 9 | ★★★★☆ |
| neem oil | 9 | ★★★★☆ |
| tannins | 9 | ★★★★☆ |
| quercetin | 8 | ★★★★☆ |
| saponins | 8 | ★★★★☆ |
| polyphenols | 7 | ★★★★☆ |
Activities
Azadirachta indica has 61 reported activities identified across 231 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antioxidant, Antibacterial, Antiviral, Antimicrobial, Antimalarial.
- Total activities
- 61
- Scientific sources
- 231
Most Reported Activities
| Activity | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| Antioxidant | 30 | ★★★★★ |
| Antibacterial | 24 | ★★★★★ |
| Antiviral | 17 | ★★★★★ |
| Antimicrobial | 15 | ★★★★★ |
| Antimalarial | 14 | ★★★★★ |
| Antifungal | 12 | ★★★★★ |
| Anticancer | 11 | ★★★★★ |
| Antidiabetic | 8 | ★★★★☆ |
| Antifertility | 8 | ★★★★☆ |
| Hepatoprotective | 6 | ★★★☆☆ |
Medicinal Uses
Azadirachta indica has 189 reported medicinal uses identified across 332 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include cancer, malaria, inflammation, SARS-CoV-2, antimalarial.
- Total uses
- 189
- Scientific sources
- 332
Most Reported Uses
| Use | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| cancer | 20 | ★★★★★ |
| malaria | 18 | ★★★★★ |
| inflammation | 8 | ★★★★☆ |
| SARS-CoV-2 | 6 | ★★★☆☆ |
| antimalarial | 6 | ★★★☆☆ |
| antiviral | 6 | ★★★☆☆ |
| COVID-19 | 5 | ★★★☆☆ |
| Streptococcus mutans | 5 | ★★★☆☆ |
| diabetes mellitus | 5 | ★★★☆☆ |
| fever | 5 | ★★★☆☆ |