Therapeutic, phytochemistry and pharmacology of Azadirachta indica: A review

Abstract

Azadirachta indica (Neem), a tropical, large size, evergreen plant, has been known as the wonder tree for centuries in the Indian subcontinent. It is considered as the ‘Village dispensary’ in India because of the use of all its parts for various ailments in the indigenous system of medicine. It has an ancient history about its medicinal properties as per the classical medical literatures. Each and every part has been used in the Indian systems of medicines. It has become important in the global context today for its variety of medicinal uses. Neem is used in various diseases like dermatitis eczema, acne, bacterial and fungal infections and other skin disorders. It is now being used in the manufacture of modern day medicinal, cosmetics, toiletries and pharmaceuticals. Various parts of the tree have shown diverse biological and pharmacological activities. Keeping in view the medicinal importance of the tree in Unani Medicine (Tibb-e-Unani) and other traditional systems of medicine, an attempt has been made to review the available literature on therapeutic uses, phytochemical and ethno-pharmacological properties of its different parts