1: J Ethnopharmacol. 2007 Jan 21; [Epub ahead of print]
Antibacterial, antisecretory and antihemorrhagic activity of Azadirachta indica
used to treat cholera and diarrhea in India.
Thakurta P, Bhowmik P, Mukherjee S, Hajra TK, Patra A, Bag PK.
Department of Biochemistry, University of Calcutta, 35 Ballygunge Circular Road,
Kolkata 700019, India.
Indigenous uses of Azadirachta indica A. juss (Maliaceae) (locally known as
neem) leaves in different parts of India for curing gastrointestinal disorder
such as diarrhea and cholera is wide spread. The objective of the present study
was to evaluate the antibacterial and antisecretory activity of neem extract
against Vibrio cholerae, a causative agent of watery diarrhea such as cholera.
The methanol extract of neem leaf was tested for its antibacterial,
antisecretory and antihemorrhagic activity against Vibrio cholerae. Azadirachta
indica extract had significant antibacterial activity against the
multi/drug/resistant Vibrio cholerae of serotypes O1, O139 and non/O1, non/O139.
The minimum inhibitory concentration reached by 50% (MIC(50)) and 90% (MIC(90)),
and minimum bactericidal concentration for the extract were 2.5, >5, and
10mg/ml, respectively. Neem extract showed antisecretory activity on Vibrio
cholerae induced fluid secretion in mouse intestine with inhibition values of
27.7%, 41.1%, 43.3%, 57.0%, and 77.9% at doses of 100, 200, 300, 450 and
1800mg/kg, respectively. Oral administration of the extract inhibited hemorrhage
induced by Vibrio cholerae in mouse intestine at a dose >/=300mg/kg. The results
obtained in this study give some scientific support to the uses of neem employed
by the indigenous people in India employed for the treatment of diarrhea and
dreadful disease cholera.
PMID: 17314018 [PubMed / as supplied by publisher]
2: J Agric Food Chem. 2007 Feb 21;55(4):1389/1393. Epub 2007 Jan 31.
Influence of Physicochemical Parameters of Neem (Azadirachta indica A Juss) Oils
on Nitrification Inhibition in Soil.
Kumar R, Devakumar C, Sharma V, Kakkar G, Kumar D, Panneerselvam P.
Divisions of Agricultural Chemicals and Agronomy, Indian Agricultural Research
Institute, New Delhi 110 012, India.
The technology for the production of neem oil coated urea (NOCU) developed by
the Indian Agricultural Research Institute is in the pipeline for adaption by
several Indian fertilizer industries. Use of nitrification inhibitors is one of
the methods of improving the nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) of nitrogenous
fertilizers in agriculture. However, standard specifications for the neem oil as
a raw material of NOCU are desired. Accordingly, the present study was
undertaken to evaluate 25 samples of neem oils comprising 11 samples of expeller
grade (EG) oils, 8 samples of cold/pressed (CP) oils, 3 samples of
solvent/extracted oils, and 2 commercial formulations. NOCU was prepared using
these oils (5000 ppm of urea/N). The soils fertilized with NOCUs (200 ppm of
urea/N) were incubated at 27 degrees C and 50% water/holding capacity for a
period of 15 days. Nitrapyrin (0.5% of N) coated urea served as the reference
and prilled urea as control. Samples were analyzed for NH4+/N, NO2//N, and
NO3//N using standard methods. The percent nitrification inhibition (NI) was
calculated, and the results revealed that all of the neem oils caused NI ranging
from 4.0 to 30.9%. Two samples of EG oils and two commercial formulations were
found to be the best, causing 27.0/30.9% NI. Iodine, acid, and saponification
values and meliacin content of all of the oils were analyzed and correlated with
NI. The results revealed the direct influence of meliacin content of the neem
oils on NI, which, however, was found to be negatively correlated with
saponification and iodine values. There is, therefore, a need to introduce new
Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) specifications for neem oils as raw materials
of NOCU. Keywords: Neem (Azadirachta indica); neem oils; nitrification
inhibition; meliacins; NOCU; iodine value; saponification value; acid value.
PMID: 17263551 [PubMed / as supplied by publisher]
3: J Egypt Public Health Assoc. 1998;73(5/6):649/65.
Response and effect of two plant crude extracts on mosquito larvae Culex
pipiens.
El/Ela NA, Talha M, El/Aziz AA.
Tropical Health Dept., High Institute of Public Health, Alexandria University.
The response and effect of two plant crude extract from dry Damsissa (Ambrosia
maritima) and Neem seeds (Azadirachta indica) were tested against the first and
third instar larvae of mosquito (Culex pipiens). The results showed that both
extracts had a larvicidal effect. Neem seed extract was more toxic than Damsissa
extract against both the first and third instar larvae. In addition, the young
larvae (first instar) were more susceptible to Neem seeds than the old ones
(third instar) as revealed from the LC50 values, while Damsissa showed nearly
the same effect against both stages. Meanwhile, treatment of Neem seed extracts
resulted in prolongation of the larval period accompanied with a decrease in
larval activity. Moreover, the effect of the two extracts on larval total
esterase isozymes was examined. Neem extract showed an adverse effect on the
third instar larvae, since only one band (E1) was observed and the other 4 bands
disappeared at all concentrations used, as compared with untreated control
larvae (El, E2, E3, E4, and E5). Meanwhile, Damsissa extract treatment of the
third instar larvae showed an additional band located between E3 and E4, and the
absence of two bands (E2 and E3) after treatment with 0.5x10(4), 1x10(4) and
1.5x10(4) ppm, while treatment with 0.25x10(4) ppm did not result in any changes
in larval total esterase.
PMID: 17217029 [PubMed / indexed for MEDLINE]
4: J Econ Entomol. 2006 Dec;99(6):2010/4.
Bioactivity of neem, Azadirachta indica, against spittlebug Mahanarva
fimbriolata (Hemiptera: Cercopidae) on sugarcane.
Garcia JF, Grisoto E, Vendramim JD, Botelho PS.
Departamento de Entomologia, Fitopatologia e Zoologia Agricola/ESALQ/USP/Caixa
Postal: 09, CEP: 13418/900, Piracicaba/Sao Paulo, Brazil. jfgarcia@esalq.usp.br
The effect of neem, Azadirachta indica A. Juss, on some biological parameters of
Mahanarva fimbriolata (Stil) (Hemiptera: Cercopidae) was studied in the
laboratory by using NeemAzal/T/S, Nimkol/LS, and an aqueous neem seed extract.
Initially, the LC,, was estimated for nymphs. Later, nymphs fed on sugarcane,
Saccharum officinarum L., roots were sprayed with the respective LC,, for each
product. The adults were maintained in cages on sugarcane plants sprayed at the
base with the maximum rate recommended commercially for the crop (3 liter/ha).
Moistened cotton discs surrounding the base of the plant were used as
oviposition substrates. The LCso values estimated for NeemAzal, Nimkol, and
aqueous extract were 0.014, 0.225, and 0.611%, respectively. There was a
reduction in spittlebug longevity, regardless of sex, in relation to the
control. Males exposed to the neem products, and aqueous extract showed
longevity reductions of approximately 50%, whereas for females the reductions
were 55/60%. The neem products and extract reduced fecundity by 75/85%.
Morphological and physiological changes were observed in 9% of the eggs from
individuals submitted to NeemAzal. Neem/based products, especially NeemAzal,
have potential for the control of M. fimbriolata.
Publication Types:
Research Support, Non/U.S. Gov't
PMID: 17195667 [PubMed / in process]
5: Indian J Physiol Pharmacol. 2006 Jul/Sep;50(3):241/9.
Effect of aqueous extract of neem (Azadirachta indica) leaves on offensive and
diffensive gastric mucosal factors in rats.
Dorababu M, Joshi MC, Bhawani G, Kumar MM, Chaturvedi A, Goel RK.
Department of Pharmacology, Institute of Medical Sciences, Banaras Hindu
University, Varanasi 221 005.
Standardized aqueous extract of Neem (Azadirachta indica) leaves (AIE) has been
reported to show both ulcer protective and ulcer healing effects in normal as
well as in diabetic rats. To study the mechanism of its ulcer protective/healing
actions, effects of AIE (500 mg/ kg) was studied on various parameters of
offensive acid/pepsin secretion in 4 hr pylorus ligation, pentagastrin (PENTA, 5
microg/kg/hr)/stimulated acid secretion and gastric mucosal proton pump activity
and defensive mucin secretion including life span of gastric mucosal cells in
rats. AIE was found to inhibit acid/pepsin secretion in 4 hr pylorus ligated
rats. Continuous infusion of PENTA significantly increased the acid secretion
after 30 to 180 min or in the total 3 hr acid secretion in rat stomach perfusate
while, AIE pretreatment significantly decreased them. AIE inhibited the rat
gastric mucosal proton pump activity and the effect was comparable with that of
omeprazole (OMZ). Further, AIE did not show any effect on mucin secretion though
it enhanced life span of mucosal cells as evidenced by a decrease in cell
shedding in the gastric juice. Thus, our present data suggest that the ulcer
protective activity of AIE may be due to its anti/secretary and proton pump
inhibitory activity rather than on defensive mucin secretion. Further, acute as
well as sub acute toxicity studies have indicated no mortality with 2.5 g/kg
dose of AIE in mice and no significant alterations in body or tissues weight,
food and water intake, haematological profile and various liver and kidney
function tests in rats when treated for 28 days with 1 g/kg dose of AIE.
Publication Types:
Comparative Study
Research Support, Non/U.S. Gov't
PMID: 17193895 [PubMed / indexed for MEDLINE]
6: Tree Physiol. 2006 Dec;26(12):1565/78.
Patchy stomatal behavior in broad/leaved trees grown in different habitats.
Takanashi S, Kosugi Y, Matsuo N, Tani M, Ohte N.
Laboratory of Forest Hydrology, Division of Environmental Science and
Technology, Graduate School of Agriculture, Kyoto University, Kyoto 606/8502,
Japan. takanash@kais.kyoto/u.ac.jp
Effects of heterogeneity in stomatal behavior on gas/exchange characteristics of
leaves from four tree species growing in different climates, including
temperate, tropical monsoon and tropical rain forest, were investigated by
combining gas/exchange measurements and the pressure/infiltration method. Field
observations indicated linear relationships between whole/leaf conductance and
the ratio of infiltrated to non/infiltrated leaf area (open stomata area) in
Dipterocarpus sublamellatus Foxw. and Neobalanocarpus heimii (King) Ashton in a
tropical rain forest in Peninsular Malaysia, whereas the ratio of infiltrated to
non/infiltrated area rapidly increased up to the whole/leaf conductance at which
the entire leaf was infiltrated in Cinnamomum camphora Sieb. in a temperate
evergreen forest in Japan and in Azadirachta indica Juss. in a tropical monsoon
area in Thailand. These results strongly suggest small ranges in bell/shaped
stomatal conductance distributions in C. camphora and A. indica and bimodal
stomatal conductance distributions in D. sublamellatus and N. heimii. The values
of normalized maximum carboxylation rate at 25 degrees C (V(cmax25)) derived
from gas/exchange measurements were not constant, but decreased with decreasing
whole/leaf conductance in D. sublamellatus and N. heimii. A gas/exchange model
analysis revealed a linear relationship between whole/leaf conductance and the
ratio of infiltrated to non/infiltrated leaf area for bimodal stomatal
conductance distributions, whereas for bell/shaped distributions, the
relationships were nonlinear. Midday depression of apparent V(cmax25) in these
species was mainly caused by bimodal stomatal closure. The bimodal stomatal
distribution model could also explain diurnal changes in photosynthetic
assimilation and transpiration rates in these species.
Publication Types:
Research Support, Non/U.S. Gov't
PMID: 17169896 [PubMed / in process]
7: Turkiye Parazitol Derg. 2005;29(1):3/6.
In vitro assessment of anti / cutaneous leishmaniasis activity of some Sudanese
plants.
Fatima F, Khalid A, Nazar N, Abdalla M, Mohomed H, Toum AM, Magzoub M, Ali MS.
Institute of Nuclear Medicine, Molecular Biology and Oncology,University of
Gezera, Sudan.
Examination of crude methanol extracts of four Sudanese plants (Azadirachta
indica, Acacia nilotica, Balanites aegyptiaca and Allium sativa) revealed that
only three species had a considerable in/vitro anti/leishmanial activity on
Leishmania major promastigotes. The plants Azadrachta indica, Allium sativa, and
Acacia nilotica gave a LC50 of 10.2, 4.94, and 89.38 microg/ml, respectively.
Extracts of Balanites aegyptiaca had a moderate biological activity on L major
promastigotes.
PMID: 17167733 [PubMed / as supplied by publisher]
8: Phytother Res. 2006 Dec 13; [Epub ahead of print]
Antiproliferative effect on human cancer cell lines after treatment with
nimbolide extracted from an edible part of the neem tree (Azadirachta indica).
Roy MK, Kobori M, Takenaka M, Nakahara K, Shinmoto H, Isobe S, Tsushida T.
National Food Research Institute, 2/1/12, Kannondai, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305/8642,
Japan.
Nimbolide, a triterpenoid extracted from the flowers of the neem tree
(Azadirachta indica), was found to have antiproliferative activity against some
cancer cell lines. Treatment of cells with 0.5/5.0 mum concentrations of
nimbolide resulted in moderate to very strong growth inhibition in U937, HL/60,
THP1 and B16 cell lines. Flow cytometric analysis of U937 cells showed that
nimbolide treatment (1/2.5 mum) resulted in cell cycle disruption by decreasing
the number of cells in G0/G1 phase, with initial increases in S and G2/M phases.
Cells exposed to a higher dose of nimbolide for a longer period displayed a
severely damaged DNA profile, resulting in a remarkable increase in the number
of cells in the sub/G1 fraction, with a reciprocal decrease of cells in all
phases. Quantification of the expression of phosphatidylserine in the outer cell
membrane showed that doses of nimbolide higher than 0.4 mum exerted remarkable
lethality, with over 60% of cells exhibiting apoptotic features after exposure
to 1.2 mum nimbolide. The antiproliferative effect of nimbolide and its
apoptosis/inducing property raise hope for its use in anticancer therapy by
enhancing the effectiveness of cell cycle disruption. Copyright (c) 2006 John
Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
PMID: 17163581 [PubMed / as supplied by publisher]
9: Vet Parasitol. 2007 Mar 31;144(3/4):328/37. Epub 2006 Dec 8.
Impact of the botanical insecticide Neem Azal((R)) on survival and reproduction
of the biting louse Damalinia limbata on angora goats.
Habluetzel A, Carnevali F, Lucantoni L, Grana L, Attili AR, Archilei F, Antonini
M, Valbonesi A, Abbadessa V, Esposito F, van der Esch SA.
Department of Experimental Medicine and Public Health, Via M. Scalzino 3,
University of Camerino, 62032 Camerino (MC), Italy.
Secondary metabolites present in the neem tree (Azadirachta indica A. Juss,
Meliaceae), exhibit a wide range of biological activities in insects. However,
few studies have been undertaken to assess the potential of neem products as
insecticides for the control of ectoparasites of domestic animals. This study
was undertaken to estimate the efficacy of Neem Azal((R)), an azadirachtin/rich
extract of neem seeds, in controlling Damalinia limbata (Phthiraptera) louse
infestation of angora goats. The study was conducted on a fibre animal farm
situated in Central Italy. Groups of 11/12 goats were treated with Neem
Azal((R)) at an azadirachtin concentration of 650ppm or 125ppm, with
Neguvon((R)) or were left untreated. Their louse burden was assessed fortnightly
to monthly for 22 weeks. A reduction in louse densities of 76/96% was observed
from week 2 to week 18 after treatment with the neem solution containing
azadirachtin at a concentration of 650ppm. At the lower test concentration
(125ppm) a reduction of 60/92% could be recorded from week 2 to week 14. Neem
Azal((R)) was found to reduce the survival of both adult and nymph stages of D.
limbata and to interfere with oviposition and oogenesis of female lice. A
decrease in oviposition was observed in neem exposed female lice and the
examination of their ovaries revealed morphological alterations in both
vitellogenic and previtellogenic ovarioles at the follicular and germinal level.
Since neem compounds target different life stages and physiological processes of
D. limbata, the development of insecticide resistance by biting lice exposed to
neem/based insecticides appears unlikely. For this reason and for its prolonged
activity, which in principle allows angora goats to be protected for a large
part of the mohair production cycle, neem/based insecticides may have a
potential interest for mohair producing breeders.
PMID: 17161539 [PubMed / in process]
10: Nat Prod Res. 2006 Oct;20(12):1036/40.
A new tetracyclic triterpenoid from the leaves of Azadirachta indica.
Siddiqui BS, Afshan F, Sham/Sul/Arfeen, Gulzar T.
H.E.J. Research Institute of Chemistry, International Centre for Chemical
Sciences, University of Karachi, Karachi/75270, Pakistan.
bina@khi.comsats.net.pk
A new tetracyclic triterpenoid zeeshanol
[25,26,27/trinor/apotirucalla/(apoeupha)/6alpha/, 21/dihydroxy, 7alpha/acetoxy,
1,14,22/tri/en/3, 16/dione] (1) along with a known constituent
desfurano/6alpha/hydroxyazadiradione (2) have been isolated from the methanolic
extract of the leaves of Azadirachta indica. The structure and the relative
configurations of 1 were determined by the spectroscopic method (1H/ and
13C/NMR, IR, and MS) and 2D/NMR experiments.
PMID: 17127654 [PubMed / in process]
11: Chemosphere. 2007 Feb;67(1):80/8. Epub 2006 Nov 17.
The toxic effects of neem extract and azadirachtin on the brown planthopper,
Nilaparvata lugens (Stal) (BPH) (Homoptera: Delphacidae).
Senthil Nathan S, Choi MY, Paik CH, Seo HY, Kim JD, Kang SM.
Plant Environment Division, Honam Agricultural Research Institute (HARI),
National Institute of Crop Science (NICS), Rural Development Administration
(RDA), #381 Songhak/dong, Iksan, Chonbuk, 570/080, Republic of Korea.
senthilkalaidr@hotmail.com
Extracts of neem (Azadirachta indica A. Juss) are used in the developing world
for many purposes including management of agricultural insect pests. The effects
of different neem extracts (aqueous (NSKEaq), ethanol (NSKEeth) and hexane
(NSKEhex)) on mortality, survival and weight of the brown planthopper,
Nilaparvata lugens (Stal) (BPH) (Homoptera: Delphacidae) third and fourth
nymphal instars were investigated. When fed rice plants treated with neem
derivatives in bioassays, the survival of BPH nymphs is affected. Comparisons
were made with the pure neem limonoid, azadirachtin (AZA) to ascertain its role
as a compound responsible for these effects. AZA was most potent in all
experiments and produced almost 100% nymphal mortality at 0.5 ppm and higher
concentrations. When higher concentrations were applied, the effects appeared
shortly after treatment and mortality was higher. Many insects died after
remaining inactive for several days or during prolonged moulting. At lower
concentrations, if moulting was achieved, disturbed growth and abnormalities
were then likely to occur in the moulting process. Nymphs that were chronically
exposed to neem extract showed a reduction in weight (45/60%). The results
clearly indicate the simple NSKE (aqueous, ethanolic or both), containing low
concentrations of AZA, can be used effectively to inhibit the growth and
survival of BPH.
Publication Types:
Research Support, Non/U.S. Gov't
PMID: 17113126 [PubMed / in process]
12: J Biotechnol. 2007 Feb 1;128(2):281/9. Epub 2006 Oct 21.
Enhanced production of azadirachtin by hairy root cultures of Azadirachta indica
A. Juss by elicitation and media optimization.
Satdive RK, Fulzele DP, Eapen S.
Plant Biotechnology and Secondary Products Section, Nuclear Agriculture and
Biotechnology Division, Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, Trombay, Mumbai 400085,
India.
Azadirachtin is one of the most potent biopesticides so far developed from a
plant sources. Influence of different culture media and elicitation on growth
and production of azadirachtin by hairy root cultures of Azadirachta indica was
studied. Out of the three media tested, namely Ohyama and Nitsch, Gamborg's and
Murashige and Skoog's basal media, hairy roots cultured on Ohyama and Nitsch's
basal medium produced maximum yield of azadirachtin (0.0166% dry weight, DW).
Addition of biotic elicitor enhanced the production of azadirachtin by
approximately 5/fold (0.074% DW), while signal compounds such as jasmonic acid
and salicylic acid showed a approximately 6 (0.095% DW) and approximately 9/fold
(0.14% DW) enhancement, respectively, in the production of azadirachtin as
compared to control cultures on Ohyama and Nitsch medium. Extracts from hairy
roots were found to be superior to those from the leaves for antifeedant
activity against the larvae of Spodoptera litura.
PMID: 17109981 [PubMed / in process]
13: Pak J Pharm Sci. 2006 Oct;19(4):322/5.
Clinical investigation of hypoglycemic effect of seeds of Azadirachta/inidca in
type/2 (NIDDM) diabetes mellitus.
Waheed A, Miana GA, Ahmad SI.
Department of Pharmacology & Therapeutics, Army Medical College, Rawalpindi.
The present study was designed to investigate clinically the hypoglycemic effect
of seeds of Azadirachta indica in Type/2 diabetes mellitus. After assaying
fasting plasma and urinary glucose, 10 patients of type/2 diabetes mellitus with
no previous medication, 10 patients of type/2 diabetes mellitus taking oral
hypoglycemic agents with history of inadequate control and six control subjects
were given low (0.5 g tid) and high (2 g tid) doses of powdered part, aqueous
extract and alcoholic extract of Azadirachta indica for 14 days. On 15th day
blood and urine samples for glucose were taken. Based on results obtained it was
found that Azadirachta indica has significant hypoglycemic activity in high dose
and can be successfully combined with oral hypoglycemic agents in type/2
diabetic patients whose diabetes is not controlled by these agents.
PMID: 17105712 [PubMed / indexed for MEDLINE]
14: Tissue Cell. 2006 Dec;38(6):361/71. Epub 2006 Nov 13.
Effects of a neem extract on blood feeding, oviposition and oocyte
ultrastructure in Anopheles stephensi Liston (Diptera: Culicidae).
Lucantoni L, Giusti F, Cristofaro M, Pasqualini L, Esposito F, Lupetti P,
Habluetzel A.
Department of Experimental Medicine and Public Health, University of Camerino,
Camerino, Italy.
Secondary metabolites of the neem tree (Azadirachta indica A. Juss., Meliaceae)
exhibit a wide range of biological activities in insects. However, few studies
have addressed the effects of neem extracts or compounds in arthropods of
medical importance. In this study, a laboratory strain of Anopheles stephensi
was used to assess the effects of a commercial formulation (Neem Azal) (NA)),
containing azadirachtin A at 34%, on blood feeding, oviposition and oocyte
ultrastructure. Oral administration of Neem Azal) to A. stephensi females
through artificial blood meals did impair blood intake and oviposition in a
concentration dependent manner. Similar results were obtained on females, which
had consumed Neem Azal) in sucrose solution before taking a blood meal of plain
blood. Neem treated females displayed a delay in oocyte development in both the
phase of vitellogenesis and the phase of choriogenesis. The ultrastructural
studies on ovaries from Neem Azal) treated females revealed distinct structural
modifications indicative of: (i) a complete block of oogenesis, (ii) impairment
of vitellogenesis and vitelline envelope formation, (iii) a severe degeneration
of follicle cells. In agreement with results obtained in other insects, this
study indicates that Neem Azal) impairs hormone control of oogenesis and exerts
a cytotoxic effect on both follicular cells and oocytes of the Asian malaria
vector A. stephensi.
Publication Types:
Research Support, Non/U.S. Gov't
PMID: 17097701 [PubMed / indexed for MEDLINE]
15: Neotrop Entomol. 2006 Jul/Aug;35(4):500/5.
[Toxicity of neem (Azadirachta indica A. Juss) formulations for twospotted
spider mite and Euseius alatus de leon and Phytoseiulus macropilis (Banks)
(Acari: Phytoseiidae)]
[Article in Portuguese]
Brito HM, Gondim MG Jr, de Oliveira JV, da Camara CA.
Depto. Agronomia, Univ. Federal Rural de Pernambuco, Rua Dom Manoel de Medeiros
s/n, Recife, PE.
The toxicity of selected commercial formulations of neem on Tetranychus urticae
Koch (Acari: Tetranychidae) and two predatory mites Euseius alatus De Leon and
Phytoseiulus macropilis (Banks) was studied. Topical toxicity was tested with
the commercial formulations (Natuneem, Neemseto and Callneem) and extract of
neem's seeds at concentration 1%, compared to the standard acaricide abamectin
at concentration of 0.3 ml/L and the control treatment (distilled water). Based
on the best performance against T. urticae through topical contact, the
formulation Neemseto was selected to be evaluated using different concentrations
against eggs, and residual and repellent effects on adults of the mites. Egg
treatment consisted of dipping eggs into Neemseto dilutions and control
treatment for five seconds. In addition, residual and repellent effects of
Neemseto for adult mites consisted of using leaf discs dipped into the dilutions
for five seconds. The toxicity of Neemseto on eggs and adults was greater for T.
urticae compared to the toxicity observed for the predatory mites. Neemseto was
repellent for T. urticae and E. alatus when tested at the concentrations of
0.25, 0.50 and 1.0%, and did not affect P. macropilis. Neemseto using all
concentrations, while for the predatory mites significant reduction of mite
fecundity was only observed at the largest concentrations reduced the fecundity
of T. urticae significantly. So Neemseto, among tested neem formulations,
performed better against the twospotted spider mite and exhibited relatively low
impact against the predatory mites studied.
Publication Types:
English Abstract
Research Support, Non/U.S. Gov't
PMID: 17061799 [PubMed / indexed for MEDLINE]
16: Asian Pac J Cancer Prev. 2006 Jul/Sep;7(3):467/71.
Antioxidative and modifying effects of a tropical plant Azadirachta indica
(Neem) on azoxymethane/induced preneoplastic lesions in the rat colon.
Arakaki J, Suzui M, Morioka T, Kinjo T, Kaneshiro T, Inamine M, Sunagawa N,
Nishimaki T, Yoshimi N.
Tumor Pathology, University of the Ryukyus Faculty of Medicine, Okinawa
903/0215, Japan. junya/arakaki@ryukyu/surg1.org
The purpose of the present study was to examine whether Neem leaf (Azadirachta
indica) has short/term chemopreventive effects on endpoint preneoplastic lesions
involved in rat colon carcinogenesis and might also exert antioxidative
activity. Forty/ two male F344 rats were randomly divided into 6 experimental
groups. Groups 1 to 4 were given a subcutaneous injection of azoxymethane (AOM,
20 mg/kg body weight) once a week for 2 weeks. Starting one week before the
first injection of AOM, rats in groups 2 to 4 received an aqueous extract of
Neem leaf (20, 100, and 250 mg/kg, respectively) by gavage 3 times per week, for
5 weeks. Rats in group 5 also were given the Neem extract by gavage feeding 3
times per week for 5 weeks, while group 6 served as untreated controls. The
experiment was terminated 5 weeks after the start. Dietary feeding of the Neem
extract at all dose levels significantly inhibited the induction of aberrant
crypt foci (ACF) (P<0.0002), when compared to the AOM/treated group (group 1).
In groups 2 to 4, treatment of rats with the Neem extract also significantly
decreased the proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) labeling indices
(P<0.0006) of colon epithelium and ACF. Moreover, the Neem extract also showed
antioxidative activity. The finding that dietary Neem has possible
chemopreventive effects in the present short/term colon carcinogenesis bioassay
suggests that longer/term exposure may cause suppression of tumor development.
Publication Types:
Research Support, Non/U.S. Gov't
PMID: 17059347 [PubMed / indexed for MEDLINE]
17: Trop Biomed. 2006 Jun;23(1):23/30.
Daily feeding of fresh Neem leaves (Azadirachta indica) for worm control in
sheep.
Chandrawathani P, Chang KW, Nurulaini R, Waller PJ, Adnan M, Zaini CM, Jamnah O,
Khadijah S, Vincent N.
Veterinary Research Institute, 59, Jalan Sultan Azlan Shah, 31400, Ipoh, Perak.
This study was conducted to evaluate the anthelmintic effect of Neem
(Azadirachta indica) on nematode parasites of sheep. Twelve Santa Ines cross
bred sheep from a government farm were randomly selected and equally divided
into control (n = 6) and treated groups (n =6). Faecal egg counts (FEC) using
the modified McMaster technique and the FAMACHA score for assessing clinical
anaemia were carried out daily and recorded for 6 weeks. At the end of the study
all the animals were slaughtered and the total worm count (TWC) was done. The
results of FEC showed that there was no significant difference between the
control and treated group (p = 0.081). However, worm burden estimations showed
that the number of parasites was significantly higher in the control group
compared to the treated group (p < 0.05). This result indicated that feeding
Neem had an effect on worm numbers in sheep, but was not reflected in their
faecal egg counts. Further work is needed to reconfirm the effect of Neem on
helminth infections of sheep.
PMID: 17041548 [PubMed / in process]
18: Int J Oncol. 2006 Nov;29(5):1269/78.
Chemopreventative strategies targeting the MGMT repair protein: augmented
expression in human lymphocytes and tumor cells by ethanolic and aqueous
extracts of several Indian medicinal plants.
Niture SK, Rao US, Srivenugopal KS.
Center for Cancer Biology, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Texas Tech
University Health Sciences Center, Amarillo, TX 79106, USA.
O6/alkylguanines are potent mutagenic, pro/carcinogenic and cytotoxic lesions
induced by exogenous and endogenous alkylating agents. A facilitated elimination
of these lesions by increasing the activity of O6/methylguanine/DNA
methyltransferase (MGMT) is likely to be a beneficial chemoprevention strategy,
which, however, has not been examined. Because, a marginal enhancement of this
protein may be adequate for genomic protection, we studied alterations in MGMT
activity and expression in human peripheral blood lymphocytes and cancer cell
lines induced by water/soluble and alcohol/soluble constituents of several
plants with established antioxidant and medicinal properties. Both the ethanolic
and aqueous extracts from neem (Azadirachta indica), holy basil (Ocimum
sanctum), winter cherry (Withania somnifera), and oregano (Origanum majorana)
increased the levels of MGMT protein and its demethylation activity in a
time/dependent manner with a maximum of 3/fold increase after 72/h treatment.
The extracts from gooseberry (Emblica officinalis), common basil (Ocimum
basilicum), and spearmint (Mentha viridis) were relatively less efficient in
raising MGMT levels. Increased levels of MGMT mRNA accounted at least, in part,
for the increased activity of the DNA repair protein. The herbal treatments also
increased glutathione S/transferase/pi (GSTP1) expression, albeit to a lesser
extent than MGMT. These data provide the first evidence for the upregulation of
human MGMT by plant constituents and raise the possibility of rational dietary
approaches for attenuating alkylation/induced carcinogenesis. Further, they
reveal the putative antioxidant responsiveness of the MGMT gene in human cells.
Publication Types:
Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
Research Support, Non/U.S. Gov't
PMID: 17016661 [PubMed / indexed for MEDLINE]
19: Immunobiology. 2006;211(9):721/31. Epub 2006 Jun 8.
Neem (Azadirachta indica) leaf preparation induces prophylactic growth
inhibition of murine Ehrlich carcinoma in Swiss and C57BL/6 mice by activation
of NK cells and NK/T cells.
Haque E, Baral R.
Department of Immunoregulation and Immunodiagnostics, Chittaranjan National
Cancer Institute, 37 S P Mookherjee Road, Kolkata 700026, West Bengal, India.
We have reported earlier that pretreatment of mice with neem leaf preparation
(NLP) causes prophylactic growth inhibition of murine Ehrlich's carcinoma (EC)
and B16 melanoma. Using adoptive cell transfer technology, here we have
established that NLP/mediated activation of immune cells may be involved in
tumor growth restriction. Mononuclear cells from blood and spleen of
NLP/activated Swiss and C57BL/6 mice causes enhanced cytotoxicity to murine EC
cells in vitro. Fractionation of spleen cells exhibited greater percentage of
tumor cell lysis in macrophage and B/cell/depleted NK and T/cell/rich fractions.
Flow cytometric analysis revealed in both blood and spleen, NK cells (DX5+ or
NK1.1+) and NK/T cells (CD3+/DX5+ or CD3+/NK1.1+) were increased in number in
Swiss, C57BL/6 and athymic nude mice after pretreatment with NLP. NLP/stimulated
spleen cells showed greater secretion of TNFalpha and IFNgamma. Thus,
NLP/activated NK and NK/T cells in mice may regulate tumor cell cytotoxicity by
enhancing the secretion of different cytotoxic cytokines.
PMID: 17015147 [PubMed / indexed for MEDLINE]
20: Clin Biochem. 2006 Nov;39(11):1080/7. Epub 2006 Aug 5.
Expression of PCNA, cytokeratin, Bcl/2 and p53 during chemoprevention of hamster
buccal pouch carcinogenesis by ethanolic neem (Azadirachta indica) leaf extract.
Subapriya R, Kumaraguruparan R, Nagini S.
Department of Biochemistry and Biotechnology, Faculty of Science, Annamalai
University, Annamalainagar/608 002, Tamil Nadu, India.
OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the effect of ethanolic neem leaf extract (ENLE) on cell
proliferation, differentiation and apoptosis associated proteins during
7,12/dimethylbenz[a]anthracene (DMBA)/induced hamster buccal pouch (HBP)
carcinogenesis. DESIGN AND METHODS: Hamsters were divided into four groups. The
right buccal pouches of animals in group 1 were painted with 0.5% DMBA three
times a week. Animals in group 2 painted with DMBA as in group 1, received in
addition, intragastric administration of ENLE (200 mg/kg bw) on days alternate
to DMBA application. Group 3 animals were given ENLE (200 mg/kg bw) alone.
Animals in group 4 served as control. All the animals were sacrificed after an
experimental period of 14 weeks. The expression of proliferating cell nuclear
antigen (PCNA), cytokeratin, Bcl/2 and p53 in the buccal pouch tissues were
investigated using immunohistochemical staining. In addition, the expression of
p53 was confirmed by Western blot analysis. RESULTS: Topical application of DMBA
for 14 weeks induced buccal pouch carcinomas associated with increased
expression of PCNA, mutant p53 and Bcl/2 and decreased expression of
cytokeratin. Administration of ENLE significantly inhibited the development of
HBP carcinomas as revealed by decreased expression of PCNA, mutant p53 and Bcl/2
and overexpression of cytokeratin. CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that ENLE
exerts its anticancer properties by inhibiting cell proliferation and inducing
differentiation and apoptosis.
Publication Types:
Research Support, Non/U.S. Gov't
PMID: 16989797 [PubMed / indexed for MEDLINE]
21: Int J Biol Macromol. 2007 Feb 28;40(3):232/6. Epub 2006 Aug 1.
Identification and partial characterization of a highly active and stable
phospholipase D from Brassica juncea seeds.
Khatoon H, Talat S, Younus H.
Interdisciplinary Biotechnology Unit, Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh 202002,
India.
Phospholipase D (PLD) activity has been identified in some new plant sources
i.e. Brassica juncea (mustard) seeds, Zingibar officinale (ginger) rhizomes and
Azadirachta indica (neem) leaves with the aim of identifying PLDs that possess
high catalytic activity and stability. PLD from mustard seeds (PLD(ms))
exhibited the highest PLD specific activity, which was highly pH and temperature
tolerant. PLD(ms) unlike many plant PLDs exhibited high thermal stability. The
activity of PLD(ms) is optimum in the millimolar concentration of calcium ions
and is independent of phosphatidylinositol/4,5/bisphosphate (PIP(2)). An active
and stable enzyme like PLD(ms) may be utilized in the lipid industry.
PMID: 16949665 [PubMed / in process]
22: Phytomedicine. 2006 Sep;13(8):576/83. Epub 2005 Jun 24.
Native Kenyan plants as possible alternatives to methyl bromide in soil
fumigation.
Rugutt JK, Ngigi AN, Rugutt KJ, Ndalut PK.
Department of Chemistry, Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts, 375 Church
Street, North Adams, MA 0147, USA. jrugutt@mcla.mass.edu
Methyl bromide (CH3Br) is a biocidal fumigant used widely in crop production and
commodity preservation worldwide. CH3Br escapes to the stratosphere and releases
bromine atom (Br), which contributes to significant destruction of the ozone
(O3). It is therefore necessary to explore alternatives to CH3Br that are
environmentally safe and suitable for resource/poor African farmers. We present
here the results of a study on the inhibitory activity of crude extracts from
Kenyan medicinal plants against three soil pathogens, Fusarium oxysporum,
Alternaria passiflorae, and Aspergillus niger. Crude organic extracts of
Warburgia ugandensis Sprague, Azadirachta indica A. Juss, Tagetes minuta and
Urtica massaica were active against all soil pathogens, while those from U.
massaica were not. Chromatographic purification of the crude extract of W.
ugandensis provided two pure compounds, muzigadial (1) and muzigadiolide (5).
The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC value) for muzigadial (1) ranged from
5 to 100mug/ml. Muzigadiolide (5) was not active. Greenhouse tests of W.
ugandensis extracts against F. oxysporium pathogen showed the most effective
inhibitory concentration to be at least 5 mg/ml. Quantitative structure/activity
relationship (QSAR) models were used to rationalize the variation in biological
activities of muzigadial (1), warburganal (2), polygodial (3), ugandensidial
(4), muzigadiolide (5), azadirachtin (6), and CH3Br. The models were based on
several molecular descriptors including LogP, van der Waals surface area
(VDW(A)), van der Waals volume (VDW(v)), dipole moment, total energy,
polarizability, and differences between the highest occupied molecular orbital
and the lowest unoccupied molecular orbital (HOMO/LUMO gap).
Publication Types:
Research Support, Non/U.S. Gov't
PMID: 16920513 [PubMed / indexed for MEDLINE]
23: Phytother Res. 2006 Oct;20(10):889/95.
Preventive effects of Azadirachta indica on benzo(a)pyrene/DNA adduct formation
in murine forestomach and hepatic tissues.
Gangar SC, Sandhir R, Rai DV, Koul A.
Department of Biophysics, Basic Medical Sciences Block, Panjab University,
Chandigarh 160014, India.
In the present investigation, the effects of aqueous Azadirachta indica leaf
extract (AAILE) on (3)H/benzo(a)pyrene/DNA [(3)H/B(a)P/DNA] adduct formation,
the status of biotransformation enzymes and reduced glutathione (GSH) content
were evaluated in the forestomach and liver of Balb/c mice. Two weeks of AAILE
treatment reduced the (3)H/B(a)P/DNA adduct levels by 31.6% in forestomach
tissue. Similarly, (3)H/B(a)P/DNA adduct levels were decreased by 34.7% in the
liver of AAILE treated mice compared with their control counterparts. After
AAILE treatment, the cytochrome P450 content decreased, whereas the GSH content
increased significantly in the hepatic tissue. In the forestomach as well as in
the liver, the cytochrome b5 content declined, whereas an increase in
glutathione/S/transferase (GST) activity was observed in both tissues. These
observations suggested that AAILE may have reduced the metabolic activation of
(3)H/B(a)P with enhanced detoxification of its active metabolites, hence the
observed decrease in the levels of (3)H/B(a)P/DNA adducts. These molecular and
biochemical modulations observed at the initiation phase of carcinogenesis seems
to be significant and could be correlated with the chemopreventive effects of A.
indica against B(a)P induced forestomach tumorigenesis. Copyright 2006 John
Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Publication Types:
Research Support, Non/U.S. Gov't
PMID: 16909440 [PubMed / indexed for MEDLINE]
24: Microbiol Res. 2006 Jul 25; [Epub ahead of print]
Neem (Azadirachta indica a. Juss) components: Candidates for the control of
Crinipellis perniciosa and Phytophthora ssp.
de Rezende Ramos A, Ludke Falcao L, Salviano Barbosa G, Helena Marcellino L,
Silvano Gander E.
Universidade Federal do Para, Centro de Ciencias Biologicas, Depto. Genetica,
Rua Augusto Correa 1, Guama, 66075/110 Belem/PA, Brazil.
Witches' broom and pod rot are the two most devastating diseases of cocoa in
South America and Africa, respectively. Their control by means of
phytosanitation and chemical fungicides is labor/intensive, costly and, in many
cases, environmentally undesirable. Therefore efforts are made in order to
identify alternative, environmentally safe and cost/efficient methods for the
control of these pathogens. Promising candidates are components of the neem tree
(Azadirachta indica), that have been used for centuries in Asia as insecticides,
fungicides, anticonceptionals in popular medicine. Here we report about tests on
the effect of various concentrations of extracts from neem leaves on growth of
mycelia of Crinipellis and Phytophthora and on germination of spores of
Crinipellis. We show a 35% growth reduction of mycelia of Phytophthora on neem
leaf extract media, whereas growth of mycelia of Crinipellis was not affected,
even at the highest concentration of neem leaf extracts used (35%). However, the
most dramatic effect of neem leaf extracts is observed on Crinipellis spore
germination, here the extracts (20/35%) reduced germination almost completely.
Based on these results, we believe that the neem tree might be a source for the
production, on small and medium scale, of an effective and cheap formulation for
the control of Crinipellis and Phytophthora.
PMID: 16872817 [PubMed / as supplied by publisher]
25: Planta Med. 2006 Aug;72(10):917/23. Epub 2006 Jul 20.
Inhibition of colon cancer (HT/29) cell proliferation by a triterpenoid isolated
from Azadirachta indica is accompanied by cell cycle arrest and up/regulation of
p21.
Roy MK, Kobori M, Takenaka M, Nakahara K, Shinmoto H, Tsushida T.
National Food Research Institute, Kannondai, Ibaraki, Tsukuba, Japan.
mkroy@affrc.go.jp
Nimbolide, a natural triterpenoid present in the edible parts of the neem tree (
Azadirachta indica), was found to be growth/inhibitory in human colon carcinoma
HT/29 cells. Nimbolide treatment of cells at 2.5 / 10 microM resulted in
moderate to very strong growth inhibition. Flow cytometric analysis of HT/29
cells showed that nimbolide treatment (2.5 microM, 12 h) caused a 6.5/fold
increase in the number of cells (55.6 %) in the G2/M phase compared with the
control cells (8.8 %). At 48 h, the cell population in the G2/M phase decreased
to 18 %, while that in the G0/G1 phase increased to 52.3 %. Western blot
analysis revealed that nimbolide/mediated G2/M arrest was accompanied by the
up/regulation of p21, cyclin D2, Chk2; and down/regulation of cyclin A, cyclin
E, Cdk2, Rad17. At G0/G1 cell cycle arrest, modulation in the expression of the
cell cycle regulatory molecules was also observed. We found that
nimbolide/induced growth inhibition and cell cycle arrest were not associated
with cellular differentiation. Quantification of cells with respect to the
expression of phosphatidylserine in the outer cell membrane showed an increase
in apoptotic cells by about 13 % after 48 h of nimbolide treatment.
PMID: 16858664 [PubMed / indexed for MEDLINE]
26: J Environ Biol. 2006 Jan;27(1):103/5.
Effective method for extraction of larvicidal component from leaves of
Azadirachta indica and Artemisia annua Linn.
Tonk S, Bartarya R, Maharaj Kumari K, Bhatnagar VP, Srivastava SS.
Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Dayalbagh Educational Institute,
Dayalbagh, Agra/282 005, India.
Leaves of Artemisia annua linn. and Azadirachta indica were extracted in
petroleum ether and hexane respectively by different methods of extraction i.e.
cold extraction, reflux extraction and soxhlet extraction. The crude extract
obtained was tested against third instar larvae of Anopheles stephensi. On
comparison of larval mortality of crude extract obtained by these three methods,
both soxhlet and reflux extraction method showed 100% mortality at 200 ppm after
48 hr in case of A. annua. However LC50 (20 ppm) value of crude extract obtained
by soxhlet extraction showed better results than reflux extraction (35 ppm)
method after 72 hr. In case of A. indica, crude obtained by soxhlet showed 100%
mortality (after 48 hr) at 250 ppm and LC50 of 69 ppm at 72 hr. Reflux
extraction does not show any appreciable mortality even at 250 ppm
concentration.
Publication Types:
Evaluation Studies
Research Support, Non/U.S. Gov't
PMID: 16850885 [PubMed / indexed for MEDLINE]
27: Phytother Res. 2006 Sep;20(9):814/8.
Pretreatment with neem (Azadirachta indica) leaf preparation in Swiss mice
diminishes leukopenia and enhances the antitumor activity of cyclophosphamide.
Ghosh D, Bose A, Haque E, Baral R.
Department of Immunoregulation and Immunodiagnostics, Chittaranjan National
Cancer Institute, Kolkata/700026, India.
Cancer chemotherapy is associated with several life threatening complications,
including bone marrow suppression and leucopenia. To overcome this problem,
colony stimulating factor (CSF), granulocyte colony stimulating factor (GCSF)
and granulocyte macrophage colony stimulating factor (GMCSF), can be used,
however, these therapeutics are expensive and have several disadvantages,
including tumor growth promoting activities. This study attempted to use an
immunostimulatory neem (Azadirachta indica) leaf preparation (NLP) to prevent
the cyclophosphamide (CYP) induced reduction in the WBC count. Pretreatment of
mice with NLP reduced the extent of leucopenia and neutropenia in normal and
tumor bearing CYP treated mice. NLP pretreatment enhanced in vitro tumor cell
cytotoxicity by peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) from CYP treated mice
in either normal or tumor bearing conditions. Similarly, NLP pretreatment of
mice enhanced the CYP mediated in vivo tumor growth inhibition and survivability
of the host. Based on these observations, it is concluded that NLP would be an
effective tool to reduce CYP/induced hematological complications. Copyright (c)
2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Publication Types:
Research Support, Non/U.S. Gov't
PMID: 16807877 [PubMed / indexed for MEDLINE]
28: Bioorg Med Chem Lett. 2006 Aug 15;16(16):4391/4. Epub 2006 Jun 21.
Synthesis and biological activity of amide derivatives of nimbolide.
Sastry BS, Suresh Babu K, Hari Babu T, Chandrasekhar S, Srinivas PV, Saxena AK,
Madhusudana Rao J.
Natural Products Laboratory, Division of Organic Chemistry/I, Indian Institute
of Chemical Technology, Hyderabad.
Nimbolide (1), a limonoid isolated from Azadirachta indica, is the chief
cytotoxic principle in Neem leaves extract. Using nimbolide as a lead compound
for anti/cancer analogue design, a series of nimbolide derivatives have been
synthesized and evaluated for in vitro cytotoxic activity against a panel of
human cancer cell lines. Out of 10 compounds screened 2g, 2h and 2i showed
potent activity.
Publication Types:
Research Support, Non/U.S. Gov't
PMID: 16793266 [PubMed / indexed for MEDLINE]
29: Eur J Med Chem. 2006 Aug;41(8):997/1002. Epub 2006 Jun 19.
Synthesis and cytotoxicity of novel isomeric C/seco limonoids.
Genupur A, Jesu JL, Srinivasan N, Kamalakaran AS, Sundar RS.
Asthagiri Herbal Research Foundation, 7/1 Thirumazhisai Street, Sundaram Colony,
East Tambaram, Chennai 600059, Tamil Nadu, India.
Attempts to cleave the C/ring in the bioactive limonoids characteristic of the
species Azadirachta indica A. Juss using BF(3) x OEt(2) and (C(4)H(9))(4)NBr
resulted in novel isomeric C/seco limonoids. Structure related cytotoxic
properties of the isomers and the native compounds have been studied using brine
shrimp lethality bioassay (BSLB) method and molecular descriptors viz.,
theoretical and chromatographic hydrophobicity constants, oxidation state and
molecular modelling studies. The O/O diad distances reveal the significance of
the orientation of the furan ring in enhancing the cytotoxicity of the molecule.
Publication Types:
Research Support, Non/U.S. Gov't
PMID: 16782238 [PubMed / indexed for MEDLINE]
30: J Ethnopharmacol. 2006 Nov 3;108(1):152/4. Epub 2006 Apr 29.
An inventory of the ethnobotanicals used as anthelmintics in the southern Punjab
(Pakistan).
Jabbar A, Raza MA, Iqbal Z, Khan MN.
Ethnoveterinary Research and Development Centre, Department of Veterinary
Parasitology, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad/38040, Pakistan.
jabbaruaf@yahoo.co.uk
A survey was conducted in southern Punjab, Pakistan, in order to document
existing ethnobotanical knowledge by the herdsmen/key respondents about
anthelmintics in ruminants. A 3/satge process was used to document the plants
being used to treat and/or control helminthes. This paper describes 29 plants to
treat helminthosis in ruminants. The main plants used were Lamium amplexicaule
L., Mallotus philippinensis Muell., Withania somnifera (L.) Dunal., Azadirachta
indica A. Juss., and Citrullus colocynthis (L.) Schrad. A few of these plants
have been scientifically validated for their claim by herdsmen on modern lines
while majority of them still needs investigations. This documentation could
provide a foundation for the scientific study and verification of those plants
which merit such study.
PMID: 16730420 [PubMed / in process]
31: J Ethnopharmacol. 2006 Nov 3;108(1):85/9. Epub 2006 Apr 27.
In vitro screening of six anthelmintic plant products against larval Haemonchus
contortus with a modified methyl/thiazolyl/tetrazolium reduction assay.
Hordegen P, Cabaret J, Hertzberg H, Langhans W, Maurer V.
Department of Veterinary Parasitology, Research Institute of Organic
Agriculture, Ackerstrasse, 5070 Frick, Switzerland.
Because of the increasing anthelmintic resistance and the impact of conventional
anthelmintics on the environment, it is important to look for alternative
strategies against gastrointestinal nematodes. Phytotherapy could be one of the
major options to control these pathologies. Extracts or ingredients of six
different plant species were tested against exsheathed infective larvae of
Haemonchus contortus using a modified methyl/thiazolyl/tetrazolium (MTT)
reduction assay. Pyrantel tartrate was used as reference anthelmintic.
Bromelain, the enzyme complex of the stem of Ananas comosus (Bromeliaceae), the
ethanolic extracts of seeds of Azadirachta indica (Meliaceae), Caesalpinia
crista (Caesalpiniaceae) and Vernonia anthelmintica (Asteraceae), and the
ethanolic extracts of the whole plant of Fumaria parviflora (Papaveraceae) and
of the fruit of Embelia ribes (Myrsinaceae) showed an anthelmintic efficacy of
up to 93%, relative to pyrantel tartrate. Based on these results obtained with
larval Haemonchus contortus, the modified MTT reduction assay could be a
possible method for testing plant products with anthelmintic properties.
Publication Types:
Research Support, Non/U.S. Gov't
PMID: 16725288 [PubMed / in process]
32: World J Gastroenterol. 2006 May 7;12(17):2749/55.
Modulatory effects of Azadirachta indica on benzo(a)pyrene/induced forestomach
tumorigenesis in mice.
Gangar SC, Sandhir R, Rai DV, Koul A.
Department of Biophysics, Basic Medical Sciences Block, Panjab University,
Chandigarh, PIN/160014, India.
AIM: To evaluate the chemopreventive effects of aqueous Azadirachta indica (A
indica) leaf extract (AAILE) against benzo(a)pyrene [B(a)P]/induced forestomach
tumorigenesis in Balb/c mice. METHODS: Female Balb/c mice were divided into four
groups of 10/12 animals each. For induction of forestomach tumors, starting from
d 14 of the experi/ment, mice of B(a)P and B(a)P+A indica groups were given
intra/gastric instillations of B(a)P (40 mg/kg), twice a week for four weeks.
Mice of A indica and B(a)P+A indica groups were orally administered with AAILE
(100 mg/kg), two weeks prior to B(a)P instillations till the end of the
experiment. After 22 wk of the first B(a)P instillation, mice were sacrificed
and the forestomachs were analyzed for development of tumors, scanning electron
microscopy (SEM) and histopathology. RESULTS: Tumor incidence was observed to be
100% in mice that received only B(a)P. However, treatment with AAILE reduced the
tumor incidence by 58.4% as observed in mice of B(a)P+A indica group when
compared to that of B(a)P group. Similarly, the tumor burden and multiplicity
were seen to decrease by 87.3% and 69.6% respectively in mice of B(a)P+A indica
group when compared to those of B(a)P group. Scanning electron microscopy
analysis showed that AAILE treatment itself did not cause any abnormalities on
the surface architecture of forestomach epithelium. In tumorous forestomach,
surface disruption was observed. Over the forestomach tumors of B(a)P group of
mice certain rounded structures were seen in addition to closely placed
tongue/shaped squamous cells. Interestingly, these rounded structures were not
observed in B(a)P + A indica group of mice. Histopathalogically, the tumors were
identical and diagnosed to be papillomas. Mice from control and A indica groups
of mice did not develop any forestomach tumors and showed normal
histo/architecture. CONCLUSION: The present data suggest that A indica exerts
chemopreventive effects against B(a)P/induced forestomach tumors in murine
model. Because of lack of toxicity and ubiquitous bioavailability, A indica may
play a promising role in future drug discovery and development as far as
chemoprevention of cancer is concerned.
Publication Types:
Research Support, Non/U.S. Gov't
PMID: 16718763 [PubMed / indexed for MEDLINE]
33: Can J Microbiol. 2006 May;52(5):427/35.
Fungal endophyte assemblages from ethnopharmaceutically important medicinal
trees.
Tejesvi MV, Mahesh B, Nalini MS, Prakash HS, Kini KR, Subbiah V, Shetty HS.
Department of Studies in Applied Botany and Biotechnology, University of Mysore,
Manasagangothri, Karnataka, India.
Endophytic fungi represent an interesting group of microorganisms associated
with the healthy tissues of terrestrial plants. They represent a large reservoir
of genetic diversity. Fungal endophytes were isolated from the inner bark
segments of ethnopharmaceutically important medicinal tree species, namely
Terminalia arjuna, Crataeva magna, Azadirachta indica, Holarrhena
antidysenterica, Terminalia chebula, and Butea monosperma (11 individual trees),
growing in different regions of southern India. Forty/eight fungal species were
recovered from 2200 bark segments. Mitosporic fungi represented a major group
(61%), with ascomycetes (21%) and sterile mycelia (18%) the next major groups.
Species of Fusarium, Pestalotiopsis, Myrothecium, Trichoderma, Verticillium, and
Chaetomium were frequently isolated. Exclusive fungal taxa were recovered from
five of the six plant species considered for the study of endophytic fungi.
Rarefaction indices for species richness indicated the highest expected number
of species for bark segments were isolated from T. arjuna and A. indica (20
species each) and from C. magna (18 species).
Publication Types:
Comparative Study
Research Support, Non/U.S. Gov't
PMID: 16699567 [PubMed / indexed for MEDLINE]
34: Immunopharmacol Immunotoxicol. 2006;28(1):33/50.
Prophylactic dose of neem (Azadirachta indica) leaf preparation restricting
murine tumor growth is nontoxic, hematostimulatory and immunostimulatory.
Haque E, Mandal I, Pal S, Baral R.
Department of Immunoregulation and Immunodiagnostics, Chittaranjan National
Cancer Institute, Kolkata, India.
Significant restriction of growth of Ehrlich's carcinoma was observed following
prophylactic treatment on Swiss albino mice with neem leaf preparation (NLP/1
unit) once weekly for four weeks. Toxic effects of this particular dose (1
unit), along with 0.5 unit and 2 units of NLP doses, were evaluated on different
murine physiological systems. One hundred percent of mice could tolerate 4
injections of 0.5 and 1 unit NLP doses. Body weight, different organ/body weight
ratios and physical behavior of treated mice remained completely unchanged
during treatment with different NLP doses. All of these NLP doses were observed
to stimulate hematological systems as evidenced by the increase in total count
of RBC, WBC and platelets and hemoglobin percentage. As histological changes as
well as elevation in serum alkaline phosphatase, SGOT, SGPT were not observed in
mice treated with three different doses of NLP, the nonhepatotoxic nature of NLP
was proved. The level of serum urea remained unaltered and normal architecture
of the cortical and medullary parts of the kidney were also preserved after NLP
treatment. Increased antibody production against B16 melanoma antigen was
detected in mice immunized with 0.5 unit and 1 unit of NLP. Number of splenic T
lymphocytes (CD4+ and CD8+) and NK cells were also observed to be increased in
mice injected with 0.5 unit and 1 unit of NLP. However, NLP dose of 2 units
could not exhibit such immunostimulatory changes; NLP mediated immunostimulation
was correlated well with the growth restriction of murine carcinoma. In other
words, tumor growth restriction was observed only when mice were injected with
immunostimulatory doses of NLP (0.5 unit and 1 unit).
Publication Types:
Research Support, Non/U.S. Gov't
PMID: 16684666 [PubMed / indexed for MEDLINE]
35: Mol Cell Biochem. 2006 Jul;287(1/2):69/77. Epub 2006 May 2.
Cytotoxic and antiproliferative effects induced by a non terpenoid polar extract
of A. indica seeds on 3T6 murine fibroblasts in culture.
Di Ilio V, Pasquariello N, van der Esch AS, Cristofaro M, Scarsella G, Risuleo
G.
Biotechnology Biological Control Agency, V. del Bosco, 10//00060 Sacrofano,
Roma, Italy.
Neem oil is a natural product obtained from the seeds of the tree Azadirachta
indica. Its composition is very complex and the oil exhibits a number of
biological activities. The most studied component is the terpenoid azadirachtin
which is used for its insecticidal and putative antimicrobial properties. In
this report we investigate the biological activity of partially purified
components of the oil obtained from A. indica. We show that the semi/purified
fractions have moderate to strong cytotoxicity. However, this is not
attributable to azadirachtin but to other active compounds present in the
mixture. Each fraction was further purified by appropriate extraction procedures
and we observed a differential cytotoxicity in the various sub/fractions. This
led us to investigate the mode of cell death. After treatment with the oil
fractions we observed positivity to TUNEL staining and extensive
internucleosomal DNA degradation both indicating apoptotic death. The
anti/proliferative properties of the neem oil/derived compounds were also
assayed by evaluation of the nuclear PCNA levels (Proliferating Cell Nuclear
Antigen). PCNA is significantly reduced in cells treated with a specific
fraction of neem oil. Finally, our results strongly suggest a possible
involvement of the mitochondrial pathway in the apoptotic death.
Publication Types:
Research Support, Non/U.S. Gov't
PMID: 16652209 [PubMed / indexed for MEDLINE]
36: Med Princ Pract. 2006;15(3):219/22.
Comparison of free radical scavenging activity of Siamese neem tree (Azadirachta
indica A. Juss var. siamensis Valeton) leaf extracts prepared by different
methods of extraction.
Sithisarn P, Supabphol R, Gritsanapan W.
Department of Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Mahidol University, Bangkok,
Thailand.
OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to investigate the antioxidant activity of
the aqueous extracts of leaves of Siamese neem tree (Azadirachta indica A. Juss
var. siamensis Valeton) from several extracting and drying methods using
2,2/diphenyl/1/picrylhydrazyl (DPPH)/scavenging assay. MATERIALS AND METHODS:
The leaves of Siamese neem tree were extracted using percolation, decoction,
maceration, soxhlet extraction, freeze drying or spray drying methods. The
extract was tested for antioxidant activity using DPPH/scavenging assay.
Thin/layer chromatography of the extract from decoction was also investigated.
RESULTS: The freeze drying method gave the highest yield (51.50%, w/w) of crude
extract, while decoction gave the most effective DPPH/scavenging activity
(EC(50): 31.4 microg/ml). Thin/layer chromatography analysis was used to screen
the leaf extract obtained using decoction, and the chromatogram showed spots
corresponding to quercetin and rutin flavonoids which exhibited antioxidant
activities (EC(50): 2.29 and 34.67 microg/ml, respectively). CONCLUSION: Siamese
neem tree leaf extracts possessed free radical scavenging activity against the
DPPH radical. The most active extract was obtained with the leaf decoction
method. It showed antioxidant activity with EC(50) of 31.4 microg/ml. Copyright
2006 S. Karger AG, Basel.
Publication Types:
Research Support, Non/U.S. Gov't
PMID: 16651839 [PubMed / indexed for MEDLINE]
37: In Vivo. 2006 Mar/Apr;20(2):247/51.
Enhancement of immune responses to neem leaf extract (Azadirachta indica)
correlates with antineoplastic activity in BALB/c/mice.
Beuth J, Schneider H, Ko HL.
Institute of Naturopathy, University of Koeln, 50931 Koeln, Germany.
hans.beuth@uk/koeln.de
An aqueous plant extract from Azadirachta indica and its chromatographic
fraction F1 (neem extract) exerted immunomodulating and antimetastatic
activities in BALB/ c/mice. Regular subcutaneous administration of neem extract
yielded significantly increased spleen weight and significant enhancement of
peritoneal macrophage activity in the chemiluminescence assay, and activation
marker CD/44 expression. The thymus weight and thymocyte counts did not show
significant differences in the control and neem extract/treated groups, however,
determination of peripheral blood cells revealed significant up/regulations of
leukocyte subsets, the lymphocytes and monocytes. Flow cytometric analaysis of
lymphocyte supopulations documented increased counts of CD/4 and CD/8 cells and
an inreased activation marker expression on lymphocytes (CD/25) and monocytes
(MAC/3) in neem/treated mice compared to the control animals. To evaluate the
antimetastatic activity of neem extract, sarcoma L/1 cells and lymphosarcoma RAW
cells were intravenously inoculated into BALB/c/mice. In these model systems the
number of experimental lung and liver metastases decreased relevantly, however,
biometrically non/significantly in neem extract/treated animals, as compared to
the control mice which received injections of saline solutions. Neem extract can
be regarded as an immunomodulating and antimetastatic substance which holds
promise for further experimental and clinical investigation.
PMID: 16634526 [PubMed / indexed for MEDLINE]
38: Fertil Steril. 2006 Apr;85 Suppl 1:1223/31.
Extract of Azadirachta indica (neem) leaf induces apoptosis in rat oocytes
cultured in vitro.
Chaube SK, Prasad PV, Khillare B, Shrivastav TG.
Department of Reproductive Biomedicine, National Institute of Health and Family
Welfare, New Delhi, India.
OBJECTIVE: To determine whether aqueous neem leaf extract (NLE) could induce
degeneration of rat oocytes and, if so, whether apoptosis is involved during
NLE/induced degeneration of oocytes cultured in vitro. DESIGN: A controlled
prospective study. SETTING: Laboratory research setting at Department of
Reproductive Biomedicine of the Institute. ANIMAL(S): Fifty/four sexually
immature female rats that were 24/25 days of age. INTERVENTION(S): The immature
female rats were injected with 10 IU pregnant mare serum gonadotropin for 48 h
followed by 10 IU human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) for 16 h. After 16 h, the
rats were killed and ovulated cumulus oocyte complexes were collected from the
oviduct. Cumulus/enclosed as well as denuded oocytes were used in the present
study. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Rates of shrinkage, membrane leakage,
degeneration, assessment of morphological apoptotic changes, bax protein
expression, and DNA fragmentation. RESULT(S): The NLE induced morphologic
apoptotic changes such as shrinkage, membrane leakage, and cytoplasmic
fragmentation prior to degeneration of oocytes. The NLE/treated oocytes that had
morphologic apoptotic features showed overexpression of bax protein and DNA
fragmentation as evidenced by terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase nick/end
labeling/positive staining and DNA ladder pattern. CONCLUSION(S): Neem leaf
extract induced apoptosis in rat oocytes prior to degeneration in vitro.
PMID: 16616096 [PubMed / indexed for MEDLINE]
39: Tree Physiol. 2006 Jul;26(7):899/904.
Interspecific variation in vessel size, growth and drought tolerance of
broad/leaved trees in semi/arid regions of Kenya.
Kondoh S, Yahata H, Nakashizuka T, Kondoh M.
Graduate School of Social and Cultural Studies, Ropponmatsu, Chou/ku, Fukuoka,
810/8560, Japan. tsuji@ecology.kyoto/u.ac.jp
In semi/arid regions, trees often wither during the dry season. Withering is
sometimes manifest as die/back, whereby whithering results in shoot death, which
progresses downward from the uppermost part of the crown. In this study, we
measured the relationships between height growth and diameter at breast height,
die/back frequency and severity, vessel size and specific hydraulic conductivity
of four evergreen (Senna siamea (Lamk) H.S. Irwin & Barneby, Jacaranda
mimosifolia D. Don, Azadirachta indica A.H.L. Juss and Acacia gerrardii Benth.)
and one deciduous (Melia volkensii Gurke) plantation tree species in Kenya,
which has a conspicuous dry season. Die/back occurred readily in some species,
but not in others. Senna siamea showed the highest specific hydraulic
conductivity and the highest growth rate among the five species and was quite
susceptible to die/back. Among species, height growth and specific hydraulic
conductivity were positively correlated with vessel size and negatively
correlated with die/back frequency, suggesting a trade/off between growth rate
and drought tolerance. This implies that an adaptation to rapid growth under
humid conditions leads to low drought tolerance. However, the deciduous tree
Melia volkensii showed high specific hydraulic conductivity and growth, with no
symptoms of die/back, implying that a mechanism associated with the deciduous
habit results in drought avoidance by reducing the requirement for water during
the dry season.
PMID: 16585035 [PubMed / in process]
40: Parasitol Res. 2006 Sep;99(4):353/6. Epub 2006 Mar 28.
A new shampoo based on neem (Azadirachta indica) is highly effective against
head lice in vitro.
Heukelbach J, Oliveira FA, Speare R.
Department of Community Health, School of Medicine, Federal University of Ceara,
Fortaleza, Brazil. heukelbach@web.de
Because topical compounds based on insecticidal chemicals are the mainstay of
head lice treatment, but resistance is increasing, alternatives, such as herbs
and oils are being sold to treat head lice. To test a commercial shampoo based
on seed extract of Azadirachta indica (neem tree) for its in vitro effect, head
lice (n=17) were collected from school children in Australia and immersed in
Wash/Away Louse shampoo (Alpha/Biocare GmbH, Germany). Vitality was evaluated
for more than 3 h by examination under a dissecting microscope. Positive and
negative controls were a commercially available head lice treatment containing
permethrin 1% (n=19) and no treatment (n=14). All lice treated with the neem
shampoo did not show any vital signs from the initial examination after
immersion at 5/30 min; after 3 h, only a single louse showed minor signs of
life, indicated by gut movements, a mortality of 94%. In the permethrin group,
mortality was 20% at 5 min, 50% at 15 min, and 74% after 3 h. All 14 head lice
of the negative control group survived during the observation period. Our data
show that Wash/Away Louse is highly effective in vitro against head lice. The
neem shampoo was more effective than the permethrin/based product. We speculate
that complex plant/based compounds will replace the well/defined chemical
pediculicides if resistance to the commonly used products further increases.
Publication Types:
Research Support, Non/U.S. Gov't
PMID: 16568334 [PubMed / in process]
41: J Chem Ecol. 2006 Feb;32(2):325/49. Epub 2006 Mar 23.
Impact of botanical pesticides derived from Melia azedarach and Azadirachta
indica plants on the emission of volatiles that attract Parasitoids of the
diamondback moth to cabbage plants.
Charleston DS, Gols R, Hordijk KA, Kfir R, Vet LE, Dicke M.
Insect Ecology, Agricultural Research Council, Plant Protection Research
Institute, Private Bag X134, Queenswood 0121, South Africa.
charlestond@arc.agric.za
Herbivorous and carnivorous arthropods use chemical information from plants
during foraging. Aqueous leaf extracts from the syringa tree Melia azedarach and
commercial formulations from the neem tree Azadirachta indica, Neemix 4.5, were
investigated for their impact on the flight response of two parasitoids, Cotesia
plutellae and Diadromus collaris. Cotesia plutellae was attracted only to
Plutella xylostella/infested cabbage plants in a wind tunnel after an
oviposition experience. Female C. plutellae did not distinguish between P.
xylostella/infested cabbage plants treated with neem and control P.
xylostella/infested plants. However, females preferred infested cabbage plants
that had been treated with syringa extract to control infested plants. Syringa
extract on filter paper did not attract C. plutellae. This suggests that an
interaction between the plant and the syringa extract enhances parasitoid
attraction. Diadromus collaris was not attracted to cabbage plants in a wind
tunnel and did not distinguish between caterpillar/damaged and undamaged cabbage
plants. Headspace analysis revealed 49 compounds in both control cabbage plants
and cabbage plants that had been treated with the syringa extract. Among these
are alcohols, aldehydes, ketones, esters, terpenoids, sulfides, and an
isothiocyanate. Cabbage plants that had been treated with the syringa extract
emitted larger quantities of volatiles, and these increased quantities were not
derived from the syringa extract. Therefore, the syringa extract seemed to
induce the emission of cabbage volatiles. To our knowledge, this is the first
example of a plant extract inducing the emission of plant volatiles in another
plant. This interesting phenomenon likely explains the preference of C.
plutellae parasitoids for cabbage plants that have been treated with syringa
extracts.
Publication Types:
Research Support, Non/U.S. Gov't
PMID: 16555134 [PubMed / indexed for MEDLINE]
42: J Ethnopharmacol. 2006 Jul 19;106(3):403/7. Epub 2006 Mar 13.
Anti/plasmodial activity and toxicity of extracts of plants used in traditional
malaria therapy in Meru and Kilifi Districts of Kenya.
Kirira PG, Rukunga GM, Wanyonyi AW, Muregi FM, Gathirwa JW, Muthaura CN, Omar
SA, Tolo F, Mungai GM, Ndiege IO.
Department of Chemistry, School of Pure & Applied Sciences, Kenyatta University,
P.O. Box 43844, Nairobi 00100 GPO, Kenya.
The methanol and aqueous extracts of 10 plant species (Acacia nilotica,
Azadirachta indica, Carissa edulis, Fagaropsis angolensis, Harrissonia
abyssinica, Myrica salicifolia, Neoboutonia macrocalyx, Strychnos heningsii,
Withania somnifera and Zanthoxylum usambarensis) used to treat malaria in Meru
and Kilifi Districts, Kenya, were tested for brine shrimp lethality and in vitro
anti/plasmodial activity against chloroquine/sensitive and chloroquine/resistant
strains of Plasmodium falciparum (NF54 and ENT30). Of the plants tested, 40% of
the methanol extracts were toxic to the brine shrimp (LD(50)<100micro/ml), while
50% showed in vitro anti/plasmodial activity (IC(50)<100microg/ml). The methanol
extract of the stem bark of N. macrocalyx had the highest toxicity to brine
shrimp nauplii (LD(50) 21.04+//1.8microg/ml). Methanol extracts of the rest of
the plants exhibited mild or no brine shrimp toxicity (LD(50)>50microg/ml). The
aqueous extracts of N. macrocalyx had mild brine shrimp toxicity (LD(50)
41.69+//0.9microg/ml), while the rest were lower (LD(50)>100microg/ml). The
methanol extracts of F. angolensis and Zanthoxylum usambarense had IC(50) values
<6microg/ml while the aqueous ones had values between 6 and 15microg/ml, against
both chloroquine/sensitive and resistant P. falciparum strains. The results
support the use of traditional herbs for anti/malarial therapy and demonstrate
their potential as sources of drugs.
Publication Types:
Research Support, Non/U.S. Gov't
PMID: 16530996 [PubMed / indexed for MEDLINE]
43: Phytother Res. 2006 Mar;20(3):228/31.
Screening of traditional antidiabetic medicinal plants of Mauritius for possible
alpha/amylase inhibitory effects in vitro.
Kotowaroo MI, Mahomoodally MF, Gurib/Fakim A, Subratty AH.
Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, University of Mauritius, Reduit,
Mauritius.
In this study, seven exotic/indigenous medicinal plants of Mauritius, namely
Coix lacryma/jobi (Poaceae), Aegle marmelos (Rutaceae), Artocarpus heterophyllus
(Moraceae), Vangueria madagascariensis (Rubiaceae), Azadirachta indica
(Meliaceae), Eriobotrya japonica (Rosaceae) and Syzigium cumini (Myrtaceae) were
studied for possible effects on starch breakdown by alpha/amylase in vitro. The
results showed that only Artocarpus heterophyllus significantly (p < 0.05)
inhibited alpha/amylase activity in vitro. To confirm the observed effects, a
further biochemical assay was undertaken to investigate the effects of
Artocarpus heterophyllus on alpha/amylase activity using rat plasma in vitro. It
was found that the aqueous leaf extract significantly (p < 0.05) inhibited
alpha/amylase activity in rat plasma. The highest inhibitory activity (27.20 +//
5.00%) was observed at a concentration of 1000 microg/mL. However, in both cases
dose dependency was not observed. Enzyme kinetic studies using the
Michaelis/Menten and Lineweaver/Burk equations were performed to establish the
type of inhibition involved. In the presence of the plant extract the maximal
velocity (Vmax) remained constant (1/150 g / L/s) whereas the Michaelis/Menten
constant (Km) increased by 5.79 g / L, indicating that the aqueous leaf extract
of Artocarpus heterophyllus behaved as a competitive inhibitor. Results from the
present study tend to indicate that Artocarpus heterophyllus could act as a
'starch blocker' thereby reducing post/prandial glucose peaks. Copyright 2006
John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Publication Types:
Comparative Study
PMID: 16521114 [PubMed / indexed for MEDLINE]
44: Phytother Res. 2006 Mar;20(3):169/77.
Chemomodulatory effects of Azadirachta indica on the hepatic status of skin
tumor bearing mice.
Koul A, Ghara AR, Gangar SC.
Department of Biophysics, Basic Medical Sciences Block, Panjab University,
Chandigarh/160014, India. ashwanik@pu.ac.in
The liver plays an important role in the modulation of the process of
carcinogenesis, as it is the primary site for the biotransformation of
xenobiotics including carcinogens as well as anticancer drugs. The present study
was designed to evaluate the biochemical alterations occurring in the liver of
7,12/dimethylbenz(a)anthracene (DMBA) induced skin tumor bearing male Balb/c
mice and their modulation by aqueous Azadirachta indica leaf extract (AAILE). It
was observed that skin tumor induction caused hepatic damage characterized by a
decreased hepatosomatic index and significantly increased (p < 0.001) activities
of the hepatic tissue injury marker enzymes, namely alkaline phosphatase,
alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase. However, upon treatment
with AAILE, the above/mentioned alterations, including the increased activities
of hepatic tissue injury marker enzymes, were significantly reversed, which
signified the hepato/protective efficacy of Azadirachta indica. Increased
oxidative stress was also observed in the hepatic tissue of skin tumor bearing
mice as revealed by a significant increase (p < 0.001) in lipid peroxidation
levels and a decrease in reduced glutathione contents and activities of various
antioxidant enzymes studied, namely glutathione/S/transferase, glutathione
peroxidase and glutathione reductase. The AAILE treatment reduced oxidative
stress by decreasing lipid peroxidation levels and enhancing the reduced
glutathione contents and activities of various antioxidant enzymes. The
activities of the xenobiotic biotransformation enzymes, namely cytochrome P450,
cytochrome b5 and glutathione/S/transferase, were found to be decreased in the
hepatic tissue of tumor bearing mice. Treatment with AAILE further caused a
decrease in the activity of cytochrome P450 and cytochrome b5, whereas it
up/regulated the activity of glutathione/S/transferase. The significance of
these observations with respect to the progress of the process of carcinogenesis
is explained in the present research article. Copyright 2006 John Wiley & Sons,
Ltd.
Publication Types:
Comparative Study
PMID: 16521106 [PubMed / indexed for MEDLINE]
45: Vet Parasitol. 2006 Apr 30;137(3/4):306/10. Epub 2006 Mar 3.
Anthelmintic activity of Azadirachta indica A. Juss against sheep
gastrointestinal nematodes.
Costa CT, Bevilaqua CM, Maciel MV, Camurca/Vasconcelos AL, Morais SM, Monteiro
MV, Farias VM, da Silva MV, Souza MM.
Faculdade de Veterinaria, Universidade Estadual do Ceara, Av. Parajana 1700,
60740/000 Fortaleza, Ceara, Brazil.
Gastrointestinal nematode control has been performed through use of
anthelmintics. However, the development of resistant populations has required
research into new alternatives. There are popular reports about anti/parasitic
activity of Azadirachta indica in animals and plants. The aim of this study was
to evaluate the anthelmintic activity of A. indica after feeding sheep with the
dried leaves. In this experiment, 40 sheep were allotted into four treatment
groups. Group I received a treatment of A. indica dry leaves mixed in a
concentrate at a rate of 0.1 g/kg dose for 3 months. Group II was treated with
double the dose of Group I. Group III was treated with closantel (Diantel) at
the manufacturer/recommended dose once at the beginning of the study and Group
IV was not treated. To compare treatment effects, the following parameters were
evaluated: egg count per gram of feces (EPG), worm burden, weight gain and
haematocrit. EPG and worm burden results were statistically evaluated using the
Kruskal/Wallis test. Haematocrit and live weight gain were submitted to analysis
of variance (ANOVA) and the means evaluated by Tukey's test with 95%
probability. None of the evaluated parameters of the treatment groups were
statistically different when compared to the control group, demonstrating that,
with the protocol used, A. indica has no anthelmintic effect.
Publication Types:
Research Support, Non/U.S. Gov't
PMID: 16517074 [PubMed / indexed for MEDLINE]
46: Ann Bot (Lond). 2006 Apr;97(4):667/74. Epub 2006 Feb 7.
Prediction of desiccation sensitivity in seeds of woody species: a probabilistic
model based on two seed traits and 104 species.
Daws MI, Garwood NC, Pritchard HW.
Seed Conservation Department, Royal Botanic Gardens Kew, Wakehurst Place,
Ardingly, West Sussex RH17 6TN, UK. m.daws@rbgkew.org.uk
BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Seed desiccation sensitivity limits the ex situ
conservation of up to 47 % of plant species, dependent on habitat. Whilst
desirable, empirically determining desiccation tolerance levels in seeds of all
species is unrealistic. A probabilistic model for the rapid identification of
woody species at high risk of displaying seed desiccation sensitivity is
presented. METHODS: The model was developed using binary logistic regression on
seed trait data [seed mass, moisture content, seed coat ratio (SCR) and rainfall
in the month of seed dispersal] for 104 species from 37 families from a
semi/deciduous tropical forest in Panama. KEY RESULTS: For the Panamanian
species, only seed mass and SCR were significantly related to the response to
desiccation, with the desiccation/sensitive seeds being large and having a
relatively low SCR (i.e. thin 'seed' coats). Application of this model to a
further 38 species, of known seed storage behaviour, from two additional
continents and differing vegetation types (dryland Africa and temperate Europe)
correctly predicted the response to desiccation in all cases, and resolved
conflicting published data for two species (Acer pseudoplatanus and Azadirachta
indica). CONCLUSIONS: This model may have application as a decision/making tool
in the handling of species of unknown seed storage behaviour in species from
three disparate habitats.
Publication Types:
Research Support, Non/U.S. Gov't
Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non/P.H.S.
PMID: 16464874 [PubMed / indexed for MEDLINE]
47: J Vector Borne Dis. 2005 Dec;42(4):159/63.
Comparative efficacy of Annona squamosa Linn. and Pongamia glabra Vent. to
Azadirachta indica A. juss against mosquitoes.
George S, Vincent S.
Department of Microbiology, Asan Memorial College, Chennai, India.
PMID: 16457387 [PubMed / indexed for MEDLINE]
48: Mol Cell Biochem. 2006 Feb;283(1/2):47/55.
Inhibitory effects of Azadirachta indica on DMBA/induced skin carcinogenesis in
Balb/c mice.
Koul A, Mukherjee N, Gangar SC.
Department of Biophysics, Basic Medical Sciences Block, Panjab University,
Chandigarh, India. ashwanik@pu.ac.in
Male Balb/c mice were divided into four groups on the basis of their respective
treatments wherein mice of Group I served as controls. For induction of skin
tumors, mice of Group II and IV were injected sub/cutaneously with
7,12/dimethylbenz(a)anthracene (DMBA). Mice of Group III and IV were
administered aqueous Azadirachta indica leaf extract (AAILE) thrice a week
throughout the experiment. After 14 weeks of the first DMBA injection, Group II
and IV mice developed tumors. In the tumor/bearing mice that received AAILE
(Group IV), a significant reduction in mean tumor burden and tumor volume was
observed. The tumors were confirmed to be papillomas and interestingly, the
extent of hyper/chromatia was observed to be much more in skin tumors of Group
II mice vis a vis the mice receiving AAILE. An increase in the extent of lipid
peroxidation was observed in tumorous tissue of Group IV when compared to that
of Group II mice. Glutathione (GSH) content and the activities of GSH/based
antioxidant enzymes viz. glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and glutathione reductase
(GR) increased significantly in the skin tissues of all the groups of mice when
compared to control counterparts. Catalase activity was found to decrease
significantly in the skin of mice, which received AAILE treatment only (Group
III). Activity of super/oxide dismutase (SOD) decreased significantly in all the
tumorous tissues (Group II and IV mice). In light of the above observations, the
role of AAILE in inhibition of DMBA/induced skin carcinogenesis is discussed in
the present study.
PMID: 16444585 [PubMed / indexed for MEDLINE]
49: Asian Pac J Cancer Prev. 2005 Oct/Dec;6(4):515/20.
Ethanolic neem (Azadirachta indica) leaf extract induces apoptosis in the
hamster buccal pouch carcinogenesis model by modulation of Bcl/2, Bim, caspase 8
and caspase 3.
Subapriya R, Bhuvaneswari V, Nagini S.
Department of Biochemistry and Biotechnology, Faculty of Science, Annamalai
University, Annamalainagar 608 002, Tamil Nadu, India.
Induction of apoptosis is one of the most active strategies in cancer
chemoprevention and the ability of medicinal plants in this regard has attracted
major research interest. The present study was designed to investigate the
apoptosis inducing capacity of an ethanolic neem leaf extract (ENLE) during
7,12/dimethylbenz[a]anthracene (DMBA)/induced hamster buccal pouch
carcinogenesis using the apoptosis/associated proteins Bcl/2, Bim, caspase 8 and
caspase 3 as markers. Topical application of DMBA to the hamster cheek pouch for
14 weeks resulted in well developed squamous cell carcinomas associated with
increased expression of Bcl/2 and decreased expression of Bim, caspase 8 and
caspase 3. Administration of ENLE inhibited DMBA/induced hamster buccal pouch
(HBP) carcinogenesis, as revealed by the absence of neoplasms, with induction of
Bim and caspases 8 and 3 and inhibition of Bcl/2 expression. Our results suggest
that the chemopreventive effects of ENLE may be mediated by induction of
apoptosis.
Publication Types:
Research Support, Non/U.S. Gov't
PMID: 16436003 [PubMed / indexed for MEDLINE]
50: Ann Trop Med Parasitol. 2006 Jan;100(1):17/22.
Fractions of an antimalarial neem/leaf extract have activities superior to
chloroquine, and are gametocytocidal.
Udeinya IJ, Brown N, Shu EN, Udeinya FI, Quakeyie I.
Department of Pharmacology, Howard University College of Medicine, Washington,
DC 20059, USA.
The antimalarial activities of two fractions (IRDN/A and IRDN/B) of an extract
from the leaves of the neem tree (Azadirachta indica) were compared with those
of chloroquine, in in/vitro assays against Plasmodium falciparum. The asexual
stages of a chloroquine/sensitive clone (ITG2F6) and a chloroquine/resistant
isolate (W2) and the gametocytes of the NF 54 (BD/7) isolate of P. falciparum
were used as the drug targets. Activity against the asexual stages was generally
evaluated as the concentrations inhibiting the parasitaemias recorded in the
control cultures, after an incubation of 48/72 h, by 50% (IC50) or 100% (IC100).
For the ITG2F6 strain, the IC50 and IC100 (in microg/ml) were, respectively,
10(/5) and 10(/4) for IRDN/A, 10(/3) and 10(/2) for IRDN/B, and 10(/2) and 1.0
for chloroquine. The corresponding values for the W2 strain were 10(/5) and 1.0
for IRDN/A, and 10.0 and >100 for chloroquine (even at 100 microg/ml,
chloroquine only inhibited the parasitaemia by 85%).Each of the two neem/leaf
fractions lysed 50% and 100% of developing gametocytes, at 10(/3) and 1.0
microg/ml, respectively; and 50% and 100% of mature gametocytes at 10(/3) and
10(2) microg/ml, respectively. If they are found safe and effective in vivo, the
neem/leaf fractions may form the basis of new antimalarial drugs that not only
cure chloroquine/sensitive and chloroquine/resistant malaria but also markedly
reduce transmission.
Publication Types:
Comparative Study
PMID: 16417709 [PubMed / indexed for MEDLINE]
51: Arch Oral Biol. 2006 Jun;51(6):482/90. Epub 2006 Jan 10.
Effect of aqueous extract from Neem (Azadirachta indica A. Juss) on
hydrophobicity, biofilm formation and adhesion in composite resin by Candida
albicans.
Polaquini SR, Svidzinski TI, Kemmelmeier C, Gasparetto A.
Dentistry Department, University Center of Maringa, Avenida Guedner 1610,
87050/390 Maringa, PR, Brazil.
OBJECTIVE: Azadirachta indica, a Meliaceae family tree, has been used in India
for many years in the treatment of several diseases in medicine and dentistry.
Current research analyses the effects of the leaf aqueous extract from
Azadirachta indica (Neem) on the adhesion, cell surface hydrophobicity and
biofilm formation, which may affect the colonisation by Candida albicans.
METHODS: Azadirachta indica extract was tested in vitro on strains of Candida
albicans 12A and 156B. Changes in hydrophobicity were reported in assays of
yeast adhesion to hydrocarbons, in biofilm formation with glucose and in the
adhesion of the microorganisms on light cured composite resin. Assays involved
enumeration of candidal colony/forming units together with scintillation
counting of radiolabelled Candida and compared to a solution of chlorhexidine
digluconate 0.125% widely used in dentistry. RESULTS: Yeast growth in Neem
extract was not inhibited in concentrations ranging from 0.1mg/ml. A
statistically significant increase (p<0.05) in cell surface hydrophobicity was
evident for the two strain tested and there was also an associated increase in
biofilm formation after contact with Neem extract in concentration 0.01 g/ml.
Decrease in adhesion capacity of cells to composite resin was also recorded.
CONCLUSION: An anti/adhesive mechanism of action by Azadirachta indica is
proposed based on the results observed.
PMID: 16412377 [PubMed / indexed for MEDLINE]
52: Nat Prod Res. 2006 Mar;20(3):241/5.
A new flavanoid from the flowers of Azadirachta indica.
Siddiqui BS, Tariq Ali S, Kashif Ali S.
H.E.J. Research Institute of Chemistry, International Centre for Chemical
Sciences, University of Karachi, Karachi/75270, Pakistan.
bina@khi.comsats.net.pk
Studies on the chemical constituents of the flowers of Azadirachta indica have
led to the isolation of one new flavanone named as azharone
(5,7,4'/trihydroxy/3'/(3''/methyl/2'',3''/epoxybutyl)flavan/4/one (3)) along
with two known constituents azadirone (1), and isoazadironolide (2). Their
structures have been elucidated through spectral studies including 2D/NMR
(COSY/45, NOESY, J/resolved, HMQC, HMBC) experiments.
PMID: 16401554 [PubMed / indexed for MEDLINE]
53: J Ethnopharmacol. 2006 Apr 21;105(1/2):246/50. Epub 2005 Dec 27.
Anticancer effects of ethanolic neem leaf extract on prostate cancer cell line
(PC/3).
Kumar S, Suresh PK, Vijayababu MR, Arunkumar A, Arunakaran J.
Department of Biotechnology, Karpagam Arts and Science college, Coimbatore 641
021, India.
Prostate cancer (PC) is the most prevalent cancer and the leading cause of male
cancer death. Azadirachta indica (neem tree) has been used successfully
centuries to reduce tumors by herbalists throughout Southeast Asia. Here the
present study indicated that an ethanolic extract of neem has been shown to
cause cell death of prostate cancer cells (PC/3) by inducing apoptosis as
evidenced by a dose/dependent increase in DNA fragmentation and a decrease in
cell viability. Western blot studies indicated that treatment with neem extract
showed decreased level of Bcl/2, which is anti/apoptotic protein and increased
the level of Bax protein. So the neem extract could be potentially effective
against prostate cancer treatment.
PMID: 16378700 [PubMed / indexed for MEDLINE]
54: East Mediterr Health J. 2004 Jul/Sep;10(4/5):573/81.
Larvicidal activity of a neem tree extract (Neemarin) against mosquito larvae in
the Islamic Republic of Iran.
Vatandoost H, Vaziri VM.
School of Public Health and Institute of Health Research, Tehran University of
Medical Science, Tehran, Islamic Republic of Iran.
An insecticide containing azadirachtin, a neem tree (Azadirachta indica)
extract, was tested against mosquito larvae in the Islamic Republic of Iran
under laboratory and field conditions. LC50 and LC90 values for Neemarin were
0.35 and 1.81 mg/L for Anopheles stephensi, the main local malaria vector, and
0.69 and 3.18 mg/L for Culex quinquefasciatus. The mortality in the pupal stage
was significantly higher than the other stages. In field trials, using
recommended dosages of 1 and 2 L/hectare, mortality of Anopheles spp. larvae was
also higher than Culex spp. Prevention of adult emerged and pupal mortality was
the main activity of this compounds. The maximum time of efficacy was 7 days at
the highest concentration (2 L/hectare).
PMID: 16335649 [PubMed / indexed for MEDLINE]
55: Indian J Exp Biol. 2005 Nov;43(11):1093/103.
Effect of aqueous leaf extract of Azadirachta indica on the reproductive organs
in male mice.
Mishra RK, Singh SK.
Department of Zoology, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi 221 005, India.
Effect of oral administration (50, 100, and 200 mg/kg body weight/day, for 28
days) of aqucous leaf extract of neem (Azadirachta indica) on the male
reproductive organs of the Parkes (P) strain mice was investigated. The
treatment had no effect on body weight and the reproductive organs weight. In
treated mice, testes showed both normal and affected seminiferous tubules in the
same sections; the affected seminiferous tubules showed intraepithelial
vacuolation, loosening of germinal epithelium, marginal condensation of
chromatin in round spermatids, occurrence of giant cells, mixing of germ cell
types in stages of spermatogenesis and degenerated appearan
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