Neem, known scientifically as Azadirachta indica, is a tree that is grown in India and used to treat several medical conditions. Every part of the neem tree can be used, including the roots, flowers, seeds, bark and leaves, according to the March 2005 issue of Current Medicinal Chemistry: Anticancer Agents. Many medicinal benefits come from the neem leaf and neem leaf extract, and while the tree may not be grown worldwide, you can find neem leaf extract in the form of capsules or oils, or as an ingredient in cosmetics and toiletries.
Cancer Prevention
Neem extract has been found to protect the body from various forms of cancer. When tested against human cervical cancer cells, by researchers at Annamalai University in India, neem showed toxic properties against the cells and initiated cancer cell death. The study, published in the June 2010 issue of "Free Radical Research," concludes that neem, with its powerful antioxidant properties, should be considered as a potential anticancer drug. Neem leaf was also tested against a carcinogen, N-methyl-N'-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine, known to cause gastric cancer. In the study, published in the July 2003 issue of the pharmaceutical journal "Die Pharmazie," rats were pretreated with neem for five days, and then were injected with MNNG. The results of the study show that neem had a cancer preventive affect, by lowering the rate of lipid peroxidation, or cellular injury, and by enhancing the levels and activity of antioxidants in the body.
Diabetes Control
Neem leaf extract can also be an effective agent for controlling blood sugar levels. Researchers at the University of Pune in India studied the effects of several plant compounds in the treatment of diabetes, one of which was neem extract. The results, published in the April 2009 issue of Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine, show that neem extract regenerated cells that produce insulin, and therefore increased the amount of insulin in the bloodstream. The study concludes that neem is a product that should be considered as a treatment for diabetes.
Dental Care
Neem leaf extract has been tested, and found effective, in the area of oral care. According to a study published in the January 2004 issue of the Journal of Ethnopharmacology, shows that a dental gel that contains neem leaf extract is effective at reducing the amount of bacteria and plaque build up in the mouth.
Urinary Tract Infections
In Indian tradition, one of the uses of neem was in treating urinary tract infections. A study in the March 2009 issue of the Indian Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences explains that when researchers tested a number of plants used in folklore, they found that neem showed antibacterial activity against the bacteria, Enterococcus faecalis. This particular type of bacteria is responsible for causing urinary tract infections, as well as wound and skin infections, according to the University of Maryland.
References
- PubMed: Current Medicinal Chemistry: Anticancer Agents: Medicinal properties of neem leaves
- PubMed: Free Radical Research: The neem limonoids azadirachtin and nimbolide induce cell cycle arrest and mitochondria-mediated apoptosis in human cervical cancer
- PubMed: Die Pharmazie: Chemoprotective effects of ethanolic extract of neem leaf
- PubMed: Evidence Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine: Antidiabetic Properties of Azardiracta indica
- PubMed: Journal of Ethnopharmacology: Evaluation of antiplaque activity of Azadirachta indica leaf
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