Azadirachta indica

Neem ( Azadirachta indica)

The neem tree ( Azadirachta indica, syn. Melia azadirachta L., Antelaea azadirachta (L.) Adelb ), also neem, neem, neem, ( Nimtree, Indian lilac ( English), margousier ( fr.) called, is one of the two species of the genus Azadirachta. Azadirachta excelsa the other type is called. the rich in active ingredients parts of plants are used in medicine and agriculture.

• 3.1 Use in medicine
• 3.2 Use in Agriculture
• 3.3 Environmental effects
• 3.4 patents

Description

The Neem is a fast-growing (mostly) evergreen tree, the average stature heights of 15 to 20 meters - achieved - under favorable conditions up to 40 meters. It can be up to 200 years old. Under unfavorable conditions, the tree loses its leaves to protect itself from drying out. The branches are spread over a tree crown is round to oval with dense leaf growth. For free- standing trees, the diameter of the crown may well correspond to its height. The trunk is generally relatively short and infrequently higher than three and a half meters. At the first branch, the bark is hard and whitish to reddish brown colored between. The outer layers of wood are bright, the inner reddish. If the inner layers of wood in contact with air, they turn reddish brown. The root system consists of a large main root, which can double as deeply into the soil as the tree is large, and a branched root system.

The unpaired pinnate leaves are a total of 20 to 40 centimeters long and consist of 31 medium to dark green part leaves that are three to eight inches long. The petiole is relatively short, young leaves often have a reddish to purple color.

The neem tree is monoecious, every tree therefore developed both male and female flowers. 150 to 250 flowers are on one, up to 25 centimeters long, panicle, which is up to three times ramified. The white and fragrant flowers are five to six millimeters long and have a diameter of eight to eleven millimeters.

Fruits

Four years after a neem tree bear fruit for the first time. After ten years, he delivers 40 to 50 kilograms of fruit and reaches its full fruitage.

The fruit is a hairless olive-like drupe which can be oval to spherical. When ripe, it is 1.4 to 2.8 inches long and 1 to 1.5 inches in diameter. The fruit skin is thin, yellowish white pulp and bitter- sweet in taste. The fruit contains one or, in rare cases, several seeds. If the fruit are eaten by animals, they excrete the indigestible seeds mostly from again. The seeds survive the digestive tract of animals and easily germinate after leaving.

Ingredients

Although the tree has been studied for decades, many of its active ingredients are not fully understood. Neem contains over 100 different chemical ingredients that also make up in the trunk, the bark of the leaves and fruits vary. Many of these ingredients very complex approximate approximate values ​​of the structural formula are known.

A very important ingredient is azadirachtin insecticide acting. It is obtained from the neem oil which is pressed out of the seed. Other important ingredients are salannin, meliantriol, Nimbin and nimbidin.

Distribution and site conditions

Originally the Neem from India, Pakistan and Burma. The neem is dependent on tropical and subtropical climate. The tree is also native to the Asian, the African, the American and the Australian continent and on the islands in the Pacific by man. The Niem encountered mainly in the flat and arid areas of the tropics and subtropics. In the mountains it is rare.

The neem is known for its resistance to drought. However, it can survive in areas well with an average annual rainfall of 400-1200 mm and occurs even in areas with low rainfall, it is dependent on groundwater. The Neem can grow in many soil types, but prefers sandy soils with a pH of 6.2 to 7.0. Waterlogging can not stand the tree. Are the roots in water too long, the neem is a very fast. The optimum annual average temperatures are 31 ° C to 32 ° C. Higher temperatures tolerated the tree, temperatures below 4 ° C are not good for the Niem: it loses its leaves and enters. In contrast, the tree temperatures above 50 ° C holds very well.

Use

Plant parts of the neem tree and products made from antibacterial and antiviral and can be used as an insecticide, fungicide, spermicide, fertilizer and feed. They are therefore used both in medicine and in agriculture and horticulture.

Use in medicine

From Indian doctors neem products have been used for 2000 years against anemia, high blood pressure, hepatitis, ulcers, leprosy, hives, thyroid disease and digestive disorders, and in the medicine of Ayurveda. Neem is used as a remedy for head lice and in dental and oral hygiene and to help in diabetes mellitus and cancer and reduce cholesterol. Likewise Niemprodukte in India be used as a spermicide and abortion for centuries. Indian researchers have confirmed this effect.

The oil of the neem tree is also used in the control of house dust mites. The Niembaumsamenöl extract leaves the food source of the mites ( skin flakes ) inedible and simultaneously stops the growth of the larvae.

Use in agriculture

In agriculture and gardening, the seeds and the oil as well as fertilizers are used to control and to prevent insects, nematodes, mites and fungi. Produced from seed meal and water solutions for casting or spraying against insect pests are widespread. While with chemical pesticides for insect resistance observed, no resistance can be expected at Niemlösungen because of their complexity.

For the insecticide effect a number of ingredients are central:

• Azadirachtin is similar in its effect to the hormone ecdysone. It prevents pests from reproducing themselves and eating crops. In addition, it is effective against various nematodes.
• Salannin has a repellent effect on insects and protect crops very effective against insect damage.
• Meliantriol acts similarly discourage insects such as locusts salannin and stops itself.
• Nimbin and nimbidin are effective against viruses.

Accordance with European legislation (Directive 98/8/EC concerning the placing of biocidal products ) and by decision of 8 May 2012, there is a decision, the active ingredient neem extract after 1 May 2014 in the appropriate list ( Annex I / IA take of Directive 98/8/EC ) for product type 18 (insecticides ).

The wood of the neem tree is a very good fuel and is used as firewood. The Niemblätter are used as cattle feed very popular. This protects other vegetation. The residues from the Niemölgewinnung ( press cake ) can be used as nutrient and mineral-rich animal feed.

Environmental effects

The neem tree is used for the reclamation of desert areas and has a high CO2 throughput. As the tree grows very rapidly, its cultivation is fast acting against the deforestation of natural forests. Niembäume help to control soil erosion and reduce the wind speed. They provide shade, cool the environment and protect the ground vegetation.

Patents

Since 1985, more than 90 patents have been filed on effective properties and extraction method of Niemprodukten world. The American company WR Grace built production facilities for Niemverarbeitung in India and Indian companies bought up. In the following period the prices of Niemsamens increased from 11 to more than 100 U.S. dollars per ton, which greatly restricted the availability especially for small farmers and local small businesses. Because of the numerous patents export opportunities for Niemprodukte were often limited to patent holders.

Since 1993, patents can check on their legality in India " Neem Campaign " initiative. Two patents on neem products have been revoked after complaints to the European Patent Office in 2000 and 2005. In the first case, in 2000 it was the patent EP 0436257 B1, which in 1994 was awarded to the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the company WR Grace by the European Patent Office. It relates to a " method for controlling fungi on plants " or a "method for protecting plants against fungal attack ." In May 2000, the patent revoked due to lack of " inventive step " in opposition appeal proceedings before the Technical Board of Appeal of the EPO, as fungicidal effects of vegetable oils are widely known and therefore required no inventive step, apply known formulas on previously unused plants.