Phytochemical composition and antibacterial activities of Azadirachta indica (Neem): significance of traditional medicine in combating infectious diseases and antimicrobial resistance

Abstract

Traditional medicines such as Azadirachta indica (A. indica) possess medicinal properties that should be explored in drug discovery to combat infectious diseases and antimicrobial resistance. This study provided insights into the antibacterial activities of A. indica. This narrative review utilised Google Scholar and PubMed to search for articles that were published from January 2000 to September 2023 on the antibacterial activities of A. indica. The study found that A. indica has activity against Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Enterococcus faecalis, and other bacteria. The antibacterial activities of A. indica were reported to be due to its phytochemical content such as phenolics, tannins, saponins, flavonoids, terpenoids, fatty acids, and alkaloids. This review found that A. indica has antimicrobial activity against some Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria due to the presence of phytochemicals. There is a need to increase investment in drug discovery and the integration of traditional medicine into the healthcare system.