Meen is a evergreen-tree native to India and the neighboring regions. The leaves, flowers, fruits and bark of the tree have been traditionally used in ayurveda medicine to treat a variety of ailments. Neem oil is extracted from the seed of the tree. Neem oil has a bitter taste and strong garlic-like aroma. According to Drugs.com neem has antibacterial and contraceptive properties.
Antibacterial Effects
Neem oil has broad spectrum antibacterial action making it effective against a wide variety of micro-organisms. According to Drugs.com, neem oil is effective against Gram-negative and Gram-positive microorganisms such as M tuberculosis and streptomycin resistant strains. Neem oil has also demonstrated its effects against the Gram-negative bacterium Vibrio cholerae Klebsiella pneumoniae.
Repellent Properties
Neem oil is a repellent against mosquitoes. An abstract posted on Pub Med website dated September 1995, reports a field study done by A.K. Mishra, N. Singh and V. P. Sharma, "Use of Neem Oil as a Mosquito Repellent in Tribal Villages of Mandla District, Madhya, Pradesh." The study was done to evaluate the mosquito repellent action of neem oil in the tribal forested villages of District Mandla. Neem oil of different concentrations was mixed in coconut oil at 1 to 4 percent and applied to the exposed areas of human volunteers' bodies. On observation the results showed 81 to 91 percent protection for 12 hours from the bites of anopheline mosquitoes. The researchers concluded that neem oil is an indigenous product and a practical solution to repel mosquitoes.
Contraceptive Properties
Neem oil was used in a novel approach for long-term and reversible blocking of fertility. In an abstract on Pub Med dated December 1990, written by S. N. Upadhyay, C. Kaushic and G. P.Talwar, "Antifertility Effects of Neem Oil by Single Intrauterine Administration: a Novel Method for Contraception." In the study, female Wistar fertile rats were given a single dose of neem oil and a control group of rats had the same volume of peanut oil. All of the control animals became pregnant and delivered normal litters. The group treated with neem oil remained infertile for periods of 107 to 180 days even after repeated meetings with fertile males. The researchers concluded that intrauterine application of neem oil appears to induce a pre-implantation block in fertility.
References
- Drugs: Neem
- Agricultural Products India: Neem
- Pub Med: Use of Neem Oil as a Mosquito Repellent in Tribal villages of Mandla District, Madhya Pradesh
- Pub Med: Antifertilty effects of neem oil by single intrauterine administration: a novel method for contraception
- Infinity Foundation: Medicinal Properties of Neem: New Findings
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