Neem

style="background:#Template:Taxobox colour;"\|Azadirachta indica
	Azadirachta indica; Azadirachta indica
style="background:#Template:Taxobox colour;" \| Scientific classification
Kingdom:	[http://worldselectshop.com/?id=9361 divisio = [http://worldselectshop.com/?id=9361 plant;
Order:	[http://worldselectshop.com/?id=9361 familia = [http://worldselectshop.com/?id=9361 genus = [http://worldselectshop.com/?id=9361 species = A. indica;
Binomial name
	Azadirachta indica;

Neem is a fast-growing [http://worldselectshop.com/?id=9361 that can reach a height of 15-20 m, rarely to 35-40 m. It is [http://worldselectshop.com/?id=9361 but under severe drought it may shed most or nearly all of its leaves. The branches are wide spread. The fairly dense crown is roundish or oval and may reach the diameter of 15-20 m in old, free-standing specimens.

The trunk is relatively short, straight and may reach a diameter of 1.2 m. The bark is hard, fissured or scaly, and whitish-grey to reddish-brown. The sapwood is greyish-white and the heartwood reddish when first exposed to the air becoming reddish-brown after exposure. The root system consists of a strong taproot and well developed lateral roots.

The alternate, leaves are 20-40 cm long, with 20-31 medium to dark green leaflets about 3-8 cm long. The terminal leaflet is often missing. The [http://worldselectshop.com/?id=9361 (botany)|petiole]s are short. Very young leaves are reddish to purplish in colour. The shape of mature leaflets is more or less asymmetric and their margins are dentate with the exception of the base of their basiscopal half, which is normally very strongly reduced and cuneate.

(Azadirachta indica) leaves & flowers in Kolkata W IMG 6199.jpg|left|thumb| leaves & flowers in [http://worldselectshop.com/?id=9361 [http://worldselectshop.com/?id=9361 Bengal], [2]]The [http://worldselectshop.com/?id=9361 (white and fragrant) are arranged axillary, normally more-or-less drooping [http://worldselectshop.com/?id=9361 which are up to 25 cm long. The [http://worldselectshop.com/?id=9361 which branch up to the third degree, bear 150-250 flowers. An individual flower is 5-6 mm long and 8-11 mm wide. [http://worldselectshop.com/?id=9361 bisexual flowers and male flowers exist on the same individual (polygamous).

The [http://worldselectshop.com/?id=9361 is a glabrous olive-like [http://worldselectshop.com/?id=9361 which varies in shape from elongate oval to nearly roundish, and when ripe are 1.4-2.8 x 1.0-1.5 cm. The fruit skin (exocarp) is thin and the bitter-sweet pulp (mesocarp) is yellowish-white and very fibrous. The mesocarp is 0.3-0.5 cm thick. The white, hard inner shell (endocarp) of the fruit encloses one, rarely two or three, elongated [http://worldselectshop.com/?id=9361 (kernels) having a brown seed coat.

Commercial plantations of the trees are not considered profitable. Around 50,000 neem trees have been planted near to provide shelter for the [http://worldselectshop.com/?id=9361 Ganguli (2002) [http://worldselectshop.com/?id=9361 Neem: A therapeutic for all seasons, Current Science, Vol. 82, No. 11, June. pp. 1304</ref>

The neem tree is very similar in appearance to the [http://worldselectshop.com/?id=9361 all parts of which are extremely poisonous.

Ecology

(Azadirachta indica) tree with flowers in Kolkata W IMG 6189.jpg|100px|thumb|left|tree with flowers in [http://worldselectshop.com/?id=9361 [http://worldselectshop.com/?id=9361 Bengal], [3]]The neem is a tree noted for its drought resistance. Normally it thrives in areas with sub-arid to sub-humid conditions, with an annual rainfall between 400 and 1200 mm. It can grow in regions with an annual rainfall below 400 mm, but in such cases it depends largely on the ground water levels. Neem can grow in many different types of [http://worldselectshop.com/?id=9361 but it thrives best on well drained deep and sandy soils (pH 6.2-7.0). It is a typical tropical/subtropical tree and exists at annual mean temperatures between 21-32 Â°C. It can tolerate high to very high temperatures. It does not tolerate temperature below 4 Â°C (leaf shedding and death may ensue). Neem is a life giving tree in South India, especially for the dry coastal southern districts. It is one of the very few shade giving trees that thrive in the drought prone areas. The trees are not at all delicate about the water quality and thrive on the merest trickle of water, whatever the quality be. In Tamil Nadu it is very common to see neem trees used as shade giving trees lining the streets or in most people's back yards. In very dry areas like Sivakasi, the trees are planted in large tracts of land, in whose shade fire works factories (that are banned from using electricity for lighting) function.

Chemical compounds

The active principles of the plant were brought to the attention of products] in [http://worldselectshop.com/?id=9361 when [http://worldselectshop.com/?id=9361 Siddiqui], while working at the Scientific and Industrial Research Laboratory at University], for the first time extracted three bitter compounds from oil], which he provisionally named as nimbin, nimbinin, and nimbidin respectively.^[1]

Usage

products.jpg|thumb|150px] In India, the tree is variously known as "Divine Tree", "Heal All", "Nature's Drugstore", "Village Pharmacy" and "Panacea for all diseases". Products made from neem have proven medicinal properties, being anthelmintic, antifungal, antidiabetic, antibacterial, antiviral, anti-infertility, and sedative. It is considered a major component in medicine] and is particularly prescribed for skin disease^{[citation needed]}.

Neem twigs are used for brushing teeth in India, Bangladesh and Pakistan. This practice is perhaps one of the earliest and most effective forms of dental care.
All parts of the tree (seeds, leaves, flowers and bark) are used for preparing many different medical preparations.
oil] is used for preparing cosmetics (soap, shampoo, balms and creams), and is useful for skin care such as acne, and keeping skin elasticity.
Besides its use in traditional Indian medicine the neem tree is of great importance for its anti-desertification properties and possibly as a good carbon dioxide sink.
Practictioners of traditional Indian medicine recommend that patients suffering from Chicken Pox sleep on neem leaves.
Gum] is used as a bulking agent and for the preparation of special purpose food (those for diabetics).

Horticultural usages

Neem is a source of environment-friendly Among the isolated [http://worldselectshop.com/?id=9361 compounds|neem constituents], [http://worldselectshop.com/?id=9361 (such as [http://worldselectshop.com/?id=9361 are effective in insect growth-regulating activity. The unique feature of neem products is that they do not directly kill the pests, but alter the life-processing behavior in such a manner that the insect can no longer feed, breed or undergo metamorphosis.

The oil is also used in sprays against [http://worldselectshop.com/?id=9361 in [http://worldselectshop.com/?id=9361 and [http://worldselectshop.com/?id=9361

The tender shoots and flowers of the neem tree are eaten as a in India. Neem flowers are very popular for their use in [http://worldselectshop.com/?id=9361 Pachadi (soup-like pickle)[2] which is made on Ugadi day in South India. A soup like dish called Veppampoo Rasam (translated as 'juice of neem flower') made of the flower of neem is prepared in [http://worldselectshop.com/?id=9361 Nadu].

Neem is also used in parts of mainland Asia], particularly in and [http://worldselectshop.com/?id=9361 (where it is known as sadao or sdao), [http://worldselectshop.com/?id=9361 (where it is called kadao) and [http://worldselectshop.com/?id=9361 (where it is called sáº§u ÄÃ¢u). Even lightly cooked, the flavour is quite bitter and thus the food is not enjoyed by all inhabitants of these nations, though it is believed to be good for one's health. [http://worldselectshop.com/?id=9361 Gum] is a rich source of protein.

References

↑ S. Siddiqui (1942), Current Science, vol.11, pp. 278â279
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[1] S. Siddiqui (1942), Current Science, vol.11, pp. 278â279

[2] recipe

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