ABSTRACT
Azadirachta indica A. Juss. is a fast-growing evergreen tree from the mahogany family Meliaceae that can reach a height of 15-20 meters. The tree is indigenous to the dry forests of south and south-east Asia and is widely distributed in India, Nepal, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia and Iran. The neem tree is the holy tree of the Hindus and is considered a major component in Ayurvedic and Unani medicine. The leaves, bark, seeds and roots of neem contain various pharmacologically active constituents, which may possess antiseptic, anti-inflammatory, antidiabetic, antibacterial and antifungal effects. Neem essential oil is obtained by hydrodistillation of the seeds. Neem oil is a light brownish to brownish clear mobile liquid which has an oily, woody and dusty slightly animalic odor. The main producing country of this oil is India. Neem essential oil has also been described as having a repulsive garlic-like odor.
