Abstract

A REVIEW OF BIOACTIVE CONSTITUENTS, PHARMACOLOGICAL AND THERAPEUTIC POTENTIAL OF NEEM (AZADIRACHTA INDICA)

Lonkar Tanuja Nanabhau*, Jadhav Pooja Shriram, Kudande Sakshi Santosh and
Prof. C.V.N. Rao

ABSTRACT

Neem (Azadirachta indica), a member of the Meliaceae family, is a well-known medicinal tree widely distributed in tropical and subtropical regions. It has been extensively utilized intraditional systems of medicine such as Ayurveda, Unani, andSiddha for its remarkable therapeutic properties. Various partsof the plant-including leaves, bark, seeds, flowers, and oil- arerich in diverse bioactive constituents such as azadirachtin,nimbin, nimbidin, nimbolide, quercetin, and salannin. Thesephytochemicals are responsible for neem's broadpharmacological spectrum, which includes antioxidant, antiinflammatory,antimicrobial, antiviral, antifungal, antimalarial,hepatoprotective, and. Modern pharmacological investigationshave validated many traditional uses of neem and highlightedits potential as a source for novel drug development. Themechanisms of action of its active compounds involvemodulation of oxidative stress, inhibition of pro-inflammatorymediators, and interference with cellular signaling pathways associated with diseaseprogression. Furthermore, neem's biocompatibility and low toxicity profile make it anattractive candidate for formulating safe and effective herbal therapeutics. Despite significantprogress, further clinical studies and advanced formulation research, includingnanoformulations and targeted drug delivery, are needed to fully explore its potential. This review focuses on the diverse bioactive constituents of neem and their pharmacological and therapeutic significance, emphasizing its value as a versatile medicinal plant in modern drug discovery.

Keywords: Neem, Azadirachta indica, Bioactive constituents, Pharmacological potential, Therapeutic applications