The neem tree, known by the botanical name Azadirachta indica, is an evergreen with broad leaves that is native to India and Burma. Extracts from various parts of the neem tree have properties that make them useful as an alternative health supplement. The New York University Langone Medical Center states that the neem tree has been referred to as "the village pharmacy," thanks to the diverse medicinal purposes its bark, leaves, sap, fruit, seeds and twigs are used for throughout India. Always consult your physician before using any nutritional supplement.
Antimicrobial
Extracts from the neem tree can kill a variety of microorganisms, such as bacteria, fungi and viruses. According to the Neem Foundation, neem oil has been shown to suppress the growth of harmful bacterial strains such as Mycobacterium tuberculosis, and a 10 percent water extract of neem leaves inhibits viral activity. NYU notes that in India, neem bark gum is used as a treatment for respiratory infections. Neem fruit is valued as a treatment for intestinal parasites. Additionally, the seed and kernel oil have been used to treat fungal and bacterial infections.
NYU notes that the antimicrobial properties of neem have been confirmed through test tube studies, but the paucity of research regarding its use calls for more studies to confirm its effectiveness as an orally administered systemic antibiotic.
Diabetes Treatment
Neem is listed as an herb that is traditionally used to treat diabetes, and the NYU Langone Medical Center concurs that it may be useful in this regard. A study published in the "Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Research" in 2010 found that neem leaf extract might be useful in treating diabetes associated with hyperlipidemia, meaning an excess of fats in the blood. More research is needed to confirm the ability of neem oil to assist in the management of diabetes.
Malaria Prevention
Neem has long been used as an insecticide, and in this capacity it has the potential to decrease incidence of malaria among humans. Malaria is caused by a parasite that is spread via the bite of a mosquito, and was responsible for the deaths of up to a million people in 2008 alone, according to the CDC. Exposure to crushed neem seeds and neem oil causes mosquitoes to stop laying eggs, according to the Neem Foundation. By restricting the growth of mosquito populations, neem may aid in decreasing the number of deaths from this devastating illness.
References
- "Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Research"; Anti-Hyperglycemic And Antidyslipidemic Potential Of Azadirachta indica Leaf Extract In STZ- Induced Diabetes Mellitus; Shradha Sicht, S.S. Sisodia; 2010
- Neem Foundation: Neem in Health
- NYU Langone Medical Center: Diabetes, General
- NYU Medical Center: Neem
- Drugs.com: Neem
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