ABSTRACT
574 Azadirachta indica, commonly known as neem, native of India-Myanmar and naturalized in most of tropical and subtropical countries has great value. The importance of the neem tree has been recognized by Indians since ancient times. Ethnobotanically neem is useful in medicine, veterinary medicine, as biopesticides and in many other ways. It contains many biologically active compounds including alkaloids, flavonoids, terpenoids, phenolic compounds, carotenoids, steroids and ketones. Biologically, the most active compounds in neem are the azadirachtins which are actually a mixture of seven isomeric compounds labeled as azadirachtin A-G of which azadirachtin E is the most effective. Other compounds that have a biological activity are salannin, volatile oils, meliantriol and nimbin.
