Status report on global Neem usage - Biblioteca Nacional de Portugal

2. GLOBAL NEEM DISSEMINATION AND USAGE
Today neem is widespread and well known as a traditional medicinal plant in many rural
areas in Asia and Africa. Teas and infusions made from leaves are used to alleviate intestinal
complaints, malaria attacks and other febrile illnesses and also to treat numerous skin
diseases. The use of aqueous extracts from seeds to treat head lice is widely known. Neem
oil has good antiseptic properties and is applied in the treatment of such skin complaints as
eczema and furuncles and to relieve intestinal worm infections.
Neem is also gaining greater attention in modern medicine; the antiseptic, anti-inflammatory,
antidiabetic, antibacterial and antifungal effects of various components of the leaves, bark,
seeds and roots are uncontested and the various parts are found in numerous commercial,
medicinal neem-based products available in India. Great hopes are also attached to treatment
of the widespread malarial and Chagas’ diseases.
Neem is also used as a contraceptive: leaves are chewed or imbibed mostly by rural African
women in the form of infusions as this prevents the fertilised egg from implanting itself in the
womb. However, neem oil would seem to be more effective, since this affects sperm whilst
concomitantly inhibiting implantation of the egg. A contraceptive preparation based on neem
oil is already being marketed successfully in India.
- Mosquito repellent
The good repellent effect makes neem oil an ideal material for mosquito repellent products.
Mosquito incense sticks are being marketed in India. Commercial mosquito repellents in the
form of skin creams have recently become available on the European market. These
products contain neem oil, along with other aromatic oils to give a pleasant smell.
- Textile protection
Neem can be used to protect textiles against parasites such as moths, mites and fungi. In
Germany and India products are available on the market based on neem oil extracts. Actually
the principal use is for hygiene, especially for people allergic to house-dust mites. The
product also can be used in the textile and carpet industries to replace pesticides responsible
for many allergies and diseases.
- Dental Hygiene, Soaps and Cosmetics (13, 15, 19)
Dental hygiene using thin neem twigs is one of the plant’s traditional uses. Chewing the thin
stalks helps prevent paradontosis, caries and other gum-related diseases in the oral cavity.
Commercial toothpastes containing neem bark extract have recently come onto the market in
India, USA and Germany.
Soap production from neem seed oil is widespread in India and Africa. Both simple household
soaps containing up to 80% neem oil and toilet soaps with 50-60% neem oil (the rest is
mostly coconut oil) are manufactured. Neem leaf extracts are often added to the soaps to
give the greenish colouring and to enhance the beneficial effects on the skin.
In India dried leaves and purified neem oil are added to face and skin creams; shampoos
and body oils containing neem oil are also available. In Germany and some other European
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