Importance of Neem Leaf: An insight into its role in combating diseases

Abstract

The neem (<i>Azadirachta indica</i> A. Juss) is a tropical evergreen tree (Fam. Meliacae; Subfam. Melioideae) traditionally well known for its medicinal value. Beneficialt effects of different parts of neem are attributed to its biologically active principle ‘Azadirachtin’. Apart from Indian subcontinent, neem is widely used in African countries as therapeutics, preservatives and insecticides. Neem leaves, natural source of flavonoids, polyphenols, isoprenoids, sulphurous and polysaccharides, play important role in scavenging the free radical and subsequently arresting disease pathogenesis. Considerable research has gone into neem for developing cost effective and non-toxic products. The present review has compiled different phytochemicals isolated from neem leaves, methods of extraction and their therapeutic use in preventing several diseases. Here, we highlighted the mechanism of anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activity of neem leaf that underscores the disease through regulation of physiological responses. Also, multiple roles of neem leaf and commercial use of neem formulation as an alternative in paving a frontier in the field of drug discovery are discussed.