Neem in Human and Plant Disease Therapy.

Singh UP, Singh DP.

Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, 221 005, India, ups@banaras.ernet.in

As a therapeutic agent, neem is one of the most popular trees in traditional medicinal systems and is increasingly becoming important in herbal alternative therapy. The tree itself is considered a “village pharmacy” because of the well-established fact that every part of the tree has an application in curing human diseases. The tree has been a constant source of novel and structurally unique phytochemicals that can constitute the basis for the development of novel pharmaco-therapeutic agents against various human diseases. Being a prototype for the development of safer drugs and ecofriendly, pro-human health agrochemical agents against a vast variety of plant diseases, the tree always remains in the center of safe herbal drug and pesticide development in the service of mankind.

PMID: 15277086 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

 

 

Oxidative membrane damage by hydroxyl radical (*OH) as measured by lipid peroxidation in stress ulcer is significantly blocked by leaf extract. Stress-induced apoptotic DNA fragmentation is also protected. The extract also prevents *OH-mediated mucosal DNA damage in vitro by scavenging the *OH. Neem leaf extract, thus, offers antiulcer activity by blocking acid secretion through inhibition of H+-K+-ATPase and by preventing oxidative damage and apoptosis.

PMID: 15265317 [PubMed - in process]

 

Antibacterial activity of Karanj (Pongamia pinnata) and Neem (Azadirachta indica) seed oil: a preliminary report.

Baswa M, Rath CC, Dash SK, Mishra RK.

Centre of Post Graduate Studies in Microbiology, Orissa University of Agriculture and Technology, Bhubaneswar, India.

The antibacterial activity of Karanj (Pongamia pinnata) and Neem (Azadirachta indica) seed oil in vitro against fourteen strains of pathogenic bacteria was assessed. Using the tube dilution technique, it was observed that 57.14 and 21.42% of the pathogens were inhibited at 500 microl/ml; 14.28 and 71.42% at 125 microl/ml; and 28.57 and 7.14% at 250 microl/ml of Karanj and Neem oils, respectively. The activity with both the oils was bactericidal and independent of temperature and energy. Most of the pathogens were killed more rapidly at 4 degrees C than 37 degrees C. The activity was mainly due to the inhibition of cell-membrane synthesis in the bacteria.

PMID: 11414503 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

 

Anti-microbial activity of a new vaginal contraceptive NIM-76 from neem oil (Azadirachta indica).

SaiRam M, Ilavazhagan G, Sharma SK, Dhanraj SA, Suresh B, Parida MM, Jana AM, Devendra K, Selvamurthy W.

Defence Institute of Physiology and Allied Sciences, Ministry of Defence, Timarpur, -1 10054, Delhi, India.

Efficacy of NIM-76, a spermicidal fraction from neem oil, was investigated for its antimicrobial action against certain bacteria, fungi and Polio virus as compared to whole neem oil. The NIM-76 preparation showed stronger anti-microbial activity than the whole neem oil. It inhibited growth of various pathogens tested including Escherichia coli and Kleibsiella pneumoniae which were not affected by the whole neem oil. NIM-76 also exhibited antifungal activity against Candida albicans and antiviral activity against Polio virus replication in vero cell lines. It also protected mice from systemic candidiasis as revealed by enhanced % survival and reduced colony forming units of C. albicans in various tissues. This shows that NIM-76 has a potent broad spectrum anti-microbial activity.

PMID: 10940573 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

 

A study of hypoglycaemic effects of Azadirachta indica (Neem) in normaland alloxan diabetic rabbits.

Khosla P, Bhanwra S, Singh J, Seth S, Srivastava RK.

Hypoglycaemic effect was observed with Azadirachta indica when given as a leaf extract and seed oil, in normal as well as diabetic rabbits. The effect, however, was more pronounced in diabetic animals in which administration for 4 weeks after alloxan induced diabetes, significantly reduced blood glucose levels. Hypoglycaemic effect was comparable to that of glibenclamide. Pretreatment with A. indica leaf extract or seed oil administration, started 2 weeks prior to alloxan, partially prevented the rise in blood glucose levels as compared to control diabetic animals. The data suggests that A. indica could be of benefit in diabetes mellitus in controlling the blood sugar or may also be helpful in preventing or delaying the onset of the disease.

PMID: 10919098 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

 

Effect of Azadirachta indica (Neem) leaf aqueous extract on paracetamol-induced liver damage in rats.

Bhanwra S, Singh J, Khosla P.

Department of Pharmacology, Pt. B.D. Sharma P.G.I.M.S., Rohtak.

The effect of aqueous leaf extract of Azadirachta indica (A. indica) was evaluated in paracetamol induced hepatotoxicity in rats. Liver necrosis was produced by administering single dose of paracetamol (2 g/kg, p.o.). The liver damage was evidenced by elevated levels of serum aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), gamma glutamyl transpeptidase (gamma-GT) and by histopathological observations of liver sections. Aqueous A. indica leaf extract (500 mg/kg, p.o.) significantly (P < 0.01) reduced these elevated levels of AST, ALT and gamma-GT. Paracetamol induced liver necrosis was also found to be reduced as observed macroscopically and histologically.

PMID: 10919097 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

 

Garlic and neem leaf extracts enhance hepatic glutathione and glutathione dependent enzymes during N-methyl-N'-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine (MNNG)-induced gastric carcinogenesis in rats.

Arivazhagan S, Balasenthil S, Nagini S.

Department of Biochemistry, Annamalai University, Annamalainagar 608 002, Tamil Nadu, India.

The protective effect of garlic (Allium sativum L.) and neem leaf (Azadirachta indica A. Juss.) was investigated on hepatic lipid peroxidation and antioxidant status during N-methyl-N'-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine (MNNG)-induced gastric carcinogenesis in male Wistar rats. Enhanced lipid peroxidation in the liver of tumour-bearing animals was accompanied by significant decreases in the activities of glutathione peroxidase (GPx), glutathione-S-transferase (GST), gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase (GGT) and reduced glutathione (GSH) levels. Administration of garlic and neem leaf extracts significantly lowered lipid peroxidation and enhanced the hepatic levels of glutathione and glutathione dependent enzymes. We speculate that garlic and neem leaf significantly alter cancer development at extrahepatic sites by influencing hepatic biotransformation enzymes and antioxidants. Copyright 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

PMID: 10861977 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

 

Chemopreventive potential of neem (Azadirachta indica) on 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene (DMBA) induced hamster buccal pouch carcinogenesis.

Balasenthil S, Arivazhagan S, Ramachandran CR, Ramachandran V, Nagini S.

Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, Annamalai University, Tamil Nadu, India.

The inhibitory effect of the aqueous extract of neem (Azadirachta indica A. Juss.) on 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene (DMBA) induced buccal pouch carcinogenesis was investigated in Syrian male hamsters. All hamsters painted on their buccal pouch with DMBA for 14 weeks developed squamous cell carcinoma. Administration of neem leaf extract effectively suppressed oral carcinogenesis initiated with DMBA as revealed by the reduced incidence of neoplasms. Lipid peroxidation, glutathione (GSH) content and the activities of glutathione peroxidase (GPx), glutathione S-transferase (GST) and gammaglutamyl transpeptidase (GGT) were used to biomonitor the chemopreventive potential of neem. Lipid peroxidation was found to be significantly decreased, whereas GSH, GPx, GST and GGT were elevated in the oral mucosa of tumour bearing animals. Our data suggest that neem may exert its chemopreventive effects in the oral mucosa by modulation of lipid peroxidation, antioxidants and detoxification systems.

PMID: 10619383 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

 

Neem oil as a sand fly (Diptera: Psychodidae) repellent.

Sharma VP, Dhiman RC.

Malaria Research Centre (ICMR), Delhi, India.

The repellent action of neem oil was evaluated against sand flies under laboratory and field conditions. Concentrations of 2% neem oil mixed in coconut or mustard oil provided 100% protection against Phlebotomus argentipes throughout the night under field conditions; against Phlebotomus papatasi it repelled sand flies for about 7 h in the laboratory. Neem oil is an indigenous product and a low-cost alternative for personal protection against sand fly bites.

PMID: 8245951 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

 

Mosquito repellent action of neem (Azadirachta indica) oil.

Sharma VP, Ansari MA, Razdan RK.

Malaria Research Centre, Delhi, India.

Two percent neem oil mixed in coconut oil, when applied to the exposed body parts of human volunteers, provided complete protection for 12 h from the bites of all anopheline species. Application of neem oil is safe and can be used for protection from malaria in endemic countries.

PMID: 8245950 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

 

The gastric antiulcer effects of the leaves of the neem tree.

Garg GP, Nigam SK, Ogle CW.

Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Hong Kong.

The antiulcer effect of aqueous extracts of the leaves of the neem tree was investigated in rats exposed to 2-h cold-restraint stress or given ethanol orally for 1 h. Extracts were administered in doses of 10, 40, or 160 mg leaf/kg body weight, either as single- or five-dose pretreatment regimens. Neem dose-dependently reduced gastric ulcer severity in rats subjected to stress and also decreased ethanol provoked gastric mucosal damage. The extract appeared to prevent mast cell degranulation and to increase the amount of adherent gastric mucus in stressed animals. These effects may explain, at least in part, the mode of the antiulcer action of neem.

PMID: 8316589 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

 

 

NOPAL

 

Systematic review of herbs and dietary supplements for glycemic control in diabetes.

Yeh GY, Eisenberg DM, Kaptchuk TJ, Phillips RS.

Division for Research and Education in Complementary and Integrative Medical Therapies, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA. gyeh@caregroup.harvard.edu

OBJECTIVE: To conduct a systematic review of the published literature on the efficacy and safety of herbal therapies and vitamin/mineral supplements for glucose control in patients with diabetes. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: We conducted an electronic literature search of MEDLINE, OLDMEDLINE, Cochrane Library Database, and HealthSTAR, from database inception to May 2002, in addition to performing hand searches and consulting with experts in the field. Available clinical studies published in the English language that used human participants and examined glycemic control were included. Data were extracted in a standardized manner, and two independent investigators assessed methodological quality of randomized controlled trials using the Jadad scale. RESULTS: A total of 108 trials examining 36 herbs (single or in combination) and 9 vitamin/mineral supplements, involving 4,565 patients with diabetes or impaired glucose tolerance, met the inclusion criteria and were analyzed. There were 58 controlled clinical trials involving individuals with diabetes or impaired glucose tolerance (42 randomized and 16 nonrandomized trials). Most studies involved patients with type 2 diabetes. Heterogeneity and the small number of studies per supplement precluded formal meta-analyses. Of these 58 trials, the direction of the evidence for improved glucose control was positive in 76% (44 of 58). Very few adverse effects were reported. CONCLUSIONS: There is still insufficient evidence to draw definitive conclusions about the efficacy of individual herbs and supplements for diabetes; however, they appear to be generally safe. The available data suggest that several supplements may warrant further study. The best evidence for efficacy from adequately designed randomized controlled trials (RCTs) is available for Coccinia indica and American ginseng. Chromium has been the most widely studied supplement. Other supplements with positive preliminary results include Gymnema sylvestre, Aloe vera, vanadium, Momordica charantia, and nopal.

 

Natural products used for diabetes.

Shapiro K, Gong WC.

College of Pharmacy, Western University of Health Sciences, Pomona, Calif 91766-1854, USA. kshapiro@westernu.edu

OBJECTIVE: To review the efficacy and safety of natural products commonly used for diabetes. DATA SOURCES: English and Spanish-language journals retrieved through a MEDLINE search of articles published between 1960 and December 2001 using these index terms: Opuntia, karela, gymnema, tecoma, alpha lipoic acid, thioctic acid, ginseng, panaxans, and diabetes. DATA SYNTHESIS: Natural products have long been used in traditional systems of medicine for diabetes. Products in common use include nopal (prickly pear cactus), fenu-greek, karela (bitter melon), gymnema, ginseng, tronadora, chromium, and alpha-lipoic acid. The popularity of these products varies among people of different ethnicities. Nopal is the most commonly used herbal hypoglycemic among persons of Mexican descent. Karela is more commonly used by persons from Asian countries. Some of these agents have gained universal appeal. For a select number of products, studies have revealed single or multiple mechanisms of action. For several of these, high soluble fiber content is a contributing factor. CONCLUSION: Based on the available evidence, several natural products in common use can lower blood glucose in patients with diabetes. Commonly used natural products often have a long history of traditional use, and pharmacists who have a stronger understanding of these products are better positioned to counsel patients on their appropriate use.

Publication Types:

·        ·        Review

·        ·        Review Literature

PMID: 11926665 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

 

 

The glycemic index of some foods common in Mexico]

[Article in Spanish]

Frati-Munari AC, Roca-Vides RA, Lopez-Perez RJ, de Vivero I, Ruiz-Velazco M.

Hospital de Especialidades, Centro Medico La Raza, Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social.

To investigate the increase of glycemia due to the ingestion of usual food in Mexico, portions with 50 g of carbohydrate form white corn tortilla, yellow corn tortilla, spaghetti, rice, potatoes, beans brown and black, nopal (prickle pear cactus) and peanuts, compared with white bread, were given to 21 healthy and 27 non-insulin-dependent diabetic subjects. Serum glucose and insulin were measured every 30 min for 180 min long. Glycemic index was obtained as: (area under curve of glucose with test food/area under curve of glucose with white bread) X 100. A corrected index was calculated subtracting the area corresponding to initial values. Insulin index was obtained similarly. Each sample was studied 14-18 times. Glycemic and insulin indexes of white and yellow corn tortilla, spaghetti, rice and potatoes were not different from bread (P greater than 0.05). Corrected glycemic indexes of brown beans (54 +/- 15, +/- SE) and black beans (43 +/- 17) were low (p less than 0.05), as well as corrected insulin indexes (69 +/- 11 and 64 +/- 10 respectively, (P less than 0.02). Peanuts had low glycemic (33 +/- 17, P less than 0.01), but normal insulin index. Nopal had very low glycemic and insulin indexes (10 +/- 17 and 10 +/- 16, P less than 0.0001). These data might be useful in prescribing diets for diabetic subjects.

PMID: 1959761 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

 

Hypoglycemic effect of Opuntia cactus.

[Article in English, Spanish]

Ibanez-Camacho R, Roman-Ramos R.

Nopal (Opuntia sp.) has been traditionally used by the Mexican population for the treatment of diabetes mellitus. The purpose of this work is to describe effects produced by directly liquified nopal and extracts from this plant in healthy and pancreatectomized rabbits. Preliminary results allow us to conclude that Opuntia streptacantha, Lemaire, has hypoglycemic properties when orally administered, in animals with experimentally induced diabetes as well as in healthy ones with physiologic hyperglycemia.

PMID: 539865 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

 

Effect of Opuntia ficus indica on symptoms of the alcohol hangover.

Wiese J, McPherson S, Odden MC, Shlipak MG.

General Internal Medicine Section and Department of Medicine, Tulane Health Sciences Center, New Orleans, LA, USA. jwiese@tulane.edu

BACKGROUND: The severity of the alcohol hangover may be related to inflammation induced by impurities in the alcohol beverage and byproducts of alcohol metabolism. An extract of the Opuntia ficus indica (OFI) plant diminishes the inflammatory response to stressful stimuli. METHODS: In this double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover trial, 64 healthy, young adult volunteers were randomly assigned to receive OFI (1600 IU) and identical placebo, given 5 hours before alcohol consumption. During 4 hours, subjects consumed up to 1.75 g of alcohol per kilogram of body weight. Hangover severity (9 symptoms) and overall well-being were assessed on a scale (0-6), and blood and urine samples were obtained the following morning. Two weeks later, the study protocol was repeated with OFI and placebo reversed. RESULTS: Fifty-five subjects completed both the OFI and placebo arms of the study. Three of the 9 symptoms-nausea, dry mouth, and anorexia-were significantly reduced by OFI (all P<.05). Overall, the symptom index was reduced by 2.7 points on average (95% confidence interval, -0.2 to 5.5; P =.07), and the risk of a severe hangover (>/=18 points) was reduced by half (odds ratio, 0.38; 95% confidence interval, 0.16-0.88; P =.02). C-reactive protein levels were strongly associated with hangover severity; the mean symptom index was 4.1 (95% confidence interval, 1.2-7.1; P =.007) higher in subjects with morning C-reactive protein levels greater than 1.0 mg/L. In addition, C-reactive protein levels were 40% higher after subjects consumed placebo compared with OFI. CONCLUSIONS: The symptoms of the alcohol hangover are largely due to the activation of inflammation. An extract of the OFI plant has a moderate effect on reducing hangover symptoms, apparently by inhibiting the production of inflammatory mediators.

Publication Types:

·        ·        Clinical Trial

·        ·        Randomized Controlled Trial

PMID: 15226168 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]