Azadirachta indica, or neem, is a flowering evergreen and a member of the mahogany family of trees. It is native to India, where the tree is known by several common names that suggest confidence in its medicinal benefits such as “Heal All” and “Village Pharmacy.” Since the tree is drought-resistant, it is planted in numbers to restore regions impacted by deforestation. Neem is also an antagonist against various pathogens that affect human health, which is why it’s added to soap.
Antibacterial Benefits
Neem soap is reputed to be beneficial for various skin disorders, such as acne. According to the “Physicians’ Desk Reference for Herbal Medicines,” the presence of limonoids are, in part, responsible for the antibacterial activity of neem. Researchers at the Sichuan Agricultural University in China have isolated and identified a newly discovered compound in neem now known as tetrahydrofuranyl diester 1. In a paper published in the March 31, 2010 issue of Fitoterapia, the scientists noted that this substance was effective against Escherichia coli, Salmonella enteritidis and Staphylococcus aureus. Previously, a study published in Foodborne Pathogogens and Diseases reported that extracts of neem were effective against four strains of Staphylococcus aureus. These findings are significant since Staphylococcus aureus resides in the flora of your skin and is responsible for many types of minor skin infections, including boils, carbuncles and pimples.
Antiviral Benefits
Neem soap is also effective against certain viruses that can affect your skin, such as Herpes simplex virus type 1, or HSV-1. The Dec. 29, 2009 issue of Phytotherapy Research included an article that described the antiviral activity of neem bark extract in vitro, meaning it was tested on cultured skin cell samples. In this study, neem bark extract was shown to prevent viral fusion, which means it prevented the virus from penetrating target cell membranes and duplicating itself. The researchers also observed an antiviral effect while the neem bark extract was isolated with viral cells, but before the latter were even introduced to the target cells. This indicates that compounds in neem effectively counter HSV-1 virus before it has the opportunity to launch an attack on healthy cells.
Anti-inflammatory Benefits
In addition to providing antibacterial properties, limonoids in neem, such as azadirachtin, also provide anti-inflammatory benefits. In a study abstract published in Journal of Oleo Science in 2009, researchers identified a total of 31 terpene compounds from an extract of neem seed, 28 of which were limonoids and six of which were previously unknown. On analysis, seven of these compounds inhibited inflammation in the skin of mice induced with 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate, an organic compound isolated from the croton plant that is commonly used in laboratory settings to promote tumor growth. Of these compounds, azadirachtin B (21) demonstrated the most anti-inflammatory activity.
References
- “PDR for Herbal Medicines”; Thomas Fleming, Chief Editor, et al; 2000
- PubMed.gov: Isolation and Identification of the Antibacterial Active Compound from Petroleum Ether Extract of Neem Oil
- PubMed.gov: Antibacterial Activity of Guava (Psidium guajava L.) and Neem (Azadirachta indica A. Juss.) Extracts Against Foodborne Pathogens and Spoilage Bacteria
- PubMed.gov: In Vitro Antiviral Activity of Neem (Azardirachta indica L.) Bark Extract Against Herpes Simplex Virus Type-1 Infection
- PubMed.gov: Melanogenesis Inhibitory, Anti-inflammatory, and Chemopreventive Effects of Limonoids from the Seeds of Azadirachta indicia A. Juss (Neem)
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