Neem Tree - a Review

Neem (or 'vembu' as it is known in Tamil) is indigenous to India. The tree is found growing in abundance all over India. It has valuable medicinal and economic benefits and in fact every part of the tree finds use in one way or the other. There is evidence to show that the Neem tree found use in the Indus Valley Civilization and also references are made to it in the Charaka Samhita, Brhat Samhita, Padma Purana, Jataka Tales and others indicating its antiquity. Neem is held sacred by the Hindus and is associated with the goddess 'Sitala' who is responsible for the manifestation of various kinds of pox. Parts of the Neem tree are particularly noted for their antiseptic, antifungal, antibacterial, anti-viral and anti-diabetic, nematicidal and pesticidal qualities. A dye prepared from the bark is used for colouring fine textured fabrics. It is resistant to gaseous pollutants and is tolerant to sulfur dioxide and drought and acts as an indicator for dust and smoke pollutants, reduces soil erosion and purifies the air. Thus, it is necessary to propagate Neem in large numbers in the wastelands of our country.