The efficacy and function of neem leaves

With the development of society and the close international exchanges, most people who study medicine have been seriously influenced by Western medicine, and fewer and fewer people are studying Chinese medicine, which has resulted in less and less understanding of Chinese medicine. Let’s talk about the effects and functions of neem leaves, a traditional Chinese medicine.

[Source] Medicinal material source: Melia azedarach L. and Toosendan Sieb., both plants of the Meliaceae family. Et Zucc． leaves.

【Original form】 1. Melia azedarach is a deciduous tree, 15-20m tall. The bark is dark brown and cracked longitudinally. The old branches are purple with many tiny lenticels. Two to three times odd-pinnate compound leaves are alternate; leaflets are ovate to elliptic, 3-7cm long, 2-3cm wide, with long pointed tips, broad cuneate or rounded bases, with obtuse serrations on the edges, dark green above, light green below, with stellate hairs when young, but later become hairless except for white hairs on the veins. Panicles are axillary or terminal; flowers are lavender, about 1 cm long; calyx is 5-lobed, lobes are lanceolate, and hairy on both sides; petals are 5, flat or recurved, oblanceolate; stamen tube is usually dark purple, about 7 mm long; ovary is superior. The drupe is oval or nearly spherical, 1.5-2cm long, light yellow, with 4-5 chambers, each chamber containing 1 seed. The flowering period is April-May, and the fruit ripening period is October-November.

【Habitat distribution】Ecological environment: 1. It grows in the wilderness or on the roadside, and is often cultivated in front of and behind houses.

【Chemical composition】 1. Neem leaves: contain rutin and kaempferol-3-O-β-rutinoside.

[Pharmacological action] The incompletely purified substance of neem leaves can inhibit the infection of viruses to mammalian cells. The peak of inhibition appears 2 hours after the effect and can last for more than 15 hours, then declines. However, if neem leaf extract is added again, the peak of inhibition can appear again. No interferon was detected in the supernatant of cells incubated with neem leaf extract, and double-stranded RNA-dependent protein kinase was not increased in the cell extracts. The antiviral state of cells after the action of neem leaf extract cannot be transmitted through intercellular fluid or direct contact between cells. The effects of neem leaf extract depend on active cellular metabolism, which can be partially reversed by actinomycin D. The above indicates that the extract of neem leaves is not an interferon-like substance, and its antiviral activity mechanism needs further study.

【Nature and flavor】 Bitter; cold; poisonous

【Functions and indications】 Clears away heat and dries dampness; kills insects and relieves itching; promotes qi circulation and relieves pain. It is mainly used for itching caused by eczema, scabies, snake and insect bites, trichomonas vaginitis, hernia pain, and swelling and pain caused by falls.

【Usage and Dosage】 For external use: take appropriate amount, decoct in water for washing, mash and apply or squeeze the juice for application. For internal use: decoction, 5-10g.

【Excerpt】 Chinese Materia Medica

Above we introduced what neem leaves are, the effects and functions of neem leaves. We know that neem leaves can not only improve immunity, but also play an indispensable role in certain diseases.