Neem in India

The use of Neem products in medicine has been in vogue during the ancient periods and
there is a revival of interest on its use in the modern medicine. Neem applications in the
ancient human medicine are enshrined in the Indian literacy written in ‘Devnagri’ script. The
Sanskrit couplets in the ancient literature describe the uses of the Neem products in the
past. It is extremely difficult to provide an exact translation of these citations but the efforts
made in the chapter is by an authority on ‘Ayurveda’. Similarly, its use in Unani medicine has
been translated by an expert for the readers of this publication. As can be seen, every part of
the tree had well defined use in these ancient systems of medicine.

This chapters cover the medical applications
of Neem oil. Its contraceptive and
antihyperglycemic effects deserve a special
mention. Neem is being projected as a
cheap and effective antifertility agent. Efforts
are underway to workout the pure fractions
with the aim of overcoming the vaginal
spermicidal effect in the post-coital stages.
Another innovation involves the
administration of purified Neem extracts
(Praneem) into the uterus to cause a long
lasting antifertility effect akin to local cell
meditated immunity in different subjects.

There is scanty information on the
anti-plasmodial effect of Neem in malaria
control. However, there is considerable
scope of examining neem products for their
casual prophylaxis, anti-release,
sporontocidal and gaemetocytocidal effects.

As to establish the usage of neem in the
modern medicine, It is provided in the
chapter on provided under the title
‘Pharmacological and Toxicology’. Except for
minor unavoidable repetition, both provided
under the title ‘Pharmacological and
Toxicology’.