Pankaj Oudhia’s Notes on Azadirachta indica A.Juss. [Kirtikar, Kanhoba Ranchoddas, and Baman Das Basu. "Indian Medicinal Plants." Indian Medicinal Plants. (1918)].

Pankaj Oudhia’s Notes on Azadirachta indica A.Juss. [Kirtikar, Kanhoba Ranchoddas, and Baman Das Basu. "Indian Medicinal Plants." Indian Medicinal Plants. (1918)].

Pankaj Oudhia

Introduction

Based on Ethnobotanical surveys since year 1990 in different parts of India Pankaj Oudhia has documented vital information about Medicinal Plants mentioned in the famous publication by Kirtikar and Basu (1918). Through this research document Pankaj Oudhia has tried to present original document with additional notes. For complete paper with pictures, Interactive Tables, Video and Audio clips please visit pankajoudhia.com

For original publication by Kirtikar and Basu (1918) please visit https://archive.org/details/indianmedicinalp01kirt

252. Melia azadiraehta, Linn, h.f.b.i., i. 544.

Roxb. 368.

Syn. :—■ Azadirachta indica, Aclr. Juss.

Sans.~The bark :— Nimba-valkalam, Nimba-muiam-val-

kalam. The fruit :— Nimba-phalam. The oil :— Nimba-tailam,

The flower :— Nimba-pushpam. The leaf :— Nimba-patram, The

juice : — Nimba-niryasam.

N. 0. MELIACE^. 301

Vern. : — Of the bark — The Nim or Margosa bark, Eng.

Nimhki-chhdl, Hind. Wim-ki-chhdl, Duh. Vembu-pattai, veppam-

pattai, Tarn. Vepa-patta, vepa-chettu-patta, Tel. Veppa-toli,

ariya-veppa-toli, Malyal. Bevina-marapette, Kan. Nim-sal, Beng.

Limbaeha-patta, Mah. lAmba-nu-ehdl, Guz. Kohumbapotta, nim-

bugaha-potta, Ging. Tama-bin-akhav, Burnt. Poste-azad-darakhte-

hindi, Poste-nib, Vers. Of the root-bark — The Nim or Margosa

root-bark, Eng. Nimb-ki-jar-ki-c/z/zaZ, Hind. Nim-ki-jar-ki-

ehhdl, Duh. Vembu-ver-pattai, veppam-verpattai, Tarn. Vepa-

veru-patta, Tel. Veppa-mulam-toli, Malyal. Beviua-beru-patte,

Kan. Nim -shikar-sal, Beng. Limba-cha-muli-patta, Mah. Limba-

nujad-chal, Guz. Kobumba-mul-potta, nimbu- mul-potta, Ging.

Tama-mi-akhav, Bur. Poste-bekhe-nib, posteaznd-darakhte-hindi,

Pers. Of the fruit — The Nim or Margosa fruit, Eng. Nimb or

Nimb-ka-phal, Hind. Nim-bachya-ninboliyan Duk Veppam-

paramvembu-pazham, Tarn. Vepa-pandu, vepa-chettu-pandu,

Tel. Veppa-kaya, ariya veppa-kaya, Ma^aLBevina-mara-hannu,

Kan. Nim-chapandu, Mali. Nim-phal, 5e??^.Limbanu-phal Guz.

Nimba-gadi, Kohumba-ka, Ging. Tama-asi, Bur. Barre-nib, Barre-

azad-darakhte-hindi, Pers. Of the nut — The Nimor Margosa nut,

Eng. Nimb-ki-guthliyan, Hind. Nim-gutliyan, Duk.Yemhu-

kottai, veppam-kottai, Tarn. Vepa-kottai, Tel. Veppa-kuru,

ariya-veppa-anti, Malyal. Bevina-gotti, Kan. Nim-gotli, Beng.

Limba-cha-antholi, Mah. Limba-nu-gotli, Guz. Kohumba-atta,

nimba-kotta, Ging. Tamabin-zi, Bur. Tukh?rctf-azad-clarakhte-

hindi, tukhme-nib, Pers. Of the oil — Nim or Margosa oil,

Eng. Nimb-ka-tel, Hind. Nimb-achen-tel, Duh. Vembu-enney,

Veppamenney, Tarn. Vepa-mine, Tel. Veppa-enna, ariya- veppu-

enna, Malyal. Bevana-yanne, bevana-mara-yanne, Kan. Nim-

tail, Beng. Limba-cha-tela, Mah. Limbanu tel, Guz. Kohumba-

tel, nimba-tel, Ging. Tama-si, tamabin-si, Bur. Roghane-

azad-darakhte-hiudi, Roghane-nib, Pers. Of the flowers — The

Nim or Margosa flowers, Eng. Nimb-ke-phul, nim-ke-phul,

Hind. Nim-ke-phul, Duk. Nambu-pu, veppam-pu, Tarn. Vepa-

puvvu, Tel. Vappapu, ariya-veppa-pu, Malyal. Bevina-huvvu,

bevina-mara-huvvu, Kan. Nim-phul, Beng. Limbache-phula,

Mah. Limba-nu- phula, Guz. Kohumba-mal, nimba-mal, Ging.

Tama-poen, Bur. Gule-azad-darakhte-hindi, gule-nib, Pers. Of

302 INDIAN MEDICINAL PLANTS.

the leaves — The Nim or Margosa leaves, Eng. Nimb-ke-pat,

nim-ka-patta, Hind. Nim-ke-patte, Dah. Vembu-ilai,veppam-

ilai, Tarn. Vepa-aku, Tel. Veppa el a, ariya-veppa-ela, Malyal.

Bevina-yale, bevina-mara-yale, Kan. Nimpata, Beng.~Limba,-

cha-pane, Mali. Limba-un-pandru, Guz. Kohumba-kola,

nimba-kola, Ging. Tamayo-e, Bur. Barge-azad-darakhte-hindi,

barge-nib, Pers. Of the gum — The Niiri or Margosa gum, Eng.

Nimb-ka-gond, nimb-ka-gond, Hind. Nim-bachk-gond, Dull.

Vembu-pisbin, veppam-pishin, Tdm. Vepapi-sunu, Tel. Veppa-

pasha, ariya-veppa-pasha, Malyal. Bevina-gondu, bevina-mara-

gondu, Kan. Trimen — " in Ceylon, in Sinhalase, Kohmba,

Tamil, aVempu." Nim-lasa, Beng. Limba-che-gonda, Mah.

Limba-nu-gundar, Guz. Kohumba-melliyam, nimba melliyam,

Ging. Tama-si, tama- bin-si, Bur. Samaghe-nib, Samaghe-

azad-darakhte-hindi, Pers. Of the toddy — The Nim or Margosa

toddy, Eng. Nimb-ka-nira, Nimba-ka-nira, Hind. Nimba-chaa-

nira, Duk. Veppam-kallu, Tarn. Vepa-kallu, Tel.

Vern. : — J. Inclraji (Porebunder and Guj.) Limbdo. (Marathi)

Kadn Nimb ; Nimba; (Hindi) Hiva Nim. Vempu (Tamil);

Kohomba (Sinhalese).

Habitat : — Common throughout India.

A tall tree, with a straight trunk and long spreading

branches. Altogether a very handsome, graceful, shady tree in

the Deccan and the Concan, 40-50ft Bark grey, with

numerous scattered tubercles. Wood hard, close-grained ;

sapwood grey, heart-wood red. Young parts glabrous- Leaves

8-15in., rather crowded near the ends of branches, simply

pinnate. Rachis 6-9 inches, says Trimen, glabrous. Leaflets

2-8 pair and alternate, 1-3 by J-lJin., 9-15 pair, says Hiern ;

opposite or alternate, very shortly stocked ; lanceolate, falcate,

very unequal-sided, oblique at base, coarsely dentate-serrate,

glabrous, pale green. Flowers small, in lax, narrow, axillary

panicles, 5-8in. long ; white, sweet-scented. Sepal rounded, finely

ciliate ; staminal-tube dilated above, hairy within, teeth truncate,

trifid, recurved. Anthers small, erect. Ovary 3-celled. Drupe

oblong-ovoid |-fin., blunt, smooth. Fruit greenish yellow

when ripe. Pulp scanty ; endocarp bony. Seed solitary.

N. 0. MELIACEiE. 303

Planted everywhere in Ceylon ; Southern and Western India.

Wild in the sub-Himalaya bract, Burma, cultivated in Dun and

Shaharanpur Districts, common along Siwalik Hills.

Parts used : — Every part of this plant, except the wood [Pankaj Oudhia’s Comment: Including wood], is

used in medicine, namely, the bark, root- bark, young fruit, nuts

or seeds, oil, flowers, leaves, gum and toddy.

" Physiological Actions. — The physiological actions of all

the parts of this plant employed as drugs may be arranged as

follows : —

" The root-bark, bark and young fruit — tonic and anti-

periodic.

" The oil, nuts, and leaves — local stimulant, insecticide,

and antiseptic.

" The flowers — stimulant-tonic and stomachic.

" The gum— demulcent-tonic.

" The toddy-— refrigerant, nutrient and alterative tonic.

" Therapeutic Uses. — The bark, root-bark, and young fruit

are useful in some slight cases of intermittent fever and general

debility. The root-bark is more active and speedy in its action

than the bark and young fruit. The margosa oil has proved

itself a useful local remedy in some chronic forms of skin

diseases and ulcers, by stimulating and exciting a healthy

action. Applied to foul and sloughing ulcers, it retards the

sloughing process to some extent, prevents the production of

maggots, and dislodges them if already produced. The oil is

also a very useful adjunct to some other and stronger remedies,

as chaulmugra oil, as already mentioned in my remarks under

the latter drug. The dry nuts of M. Azadirachta possess almost

the same medical properties as the oil, but they require to be

bruised and mixed with, water or some other liquid before they

can be applied to the skin or ulcers ; and their use, is therefore,

attended with so much, inconvenience that they cannot be

resorted to at all, except in those places where the oil is not

procurable. A strong decoction of the fresh leaves is a slight

antiseptic, and is useful like a weak carbolic lotion in washing

304 INDIAN MEDICINAL PLANTS.

wounds and ulcers, and syringing out the vagina in the after-

treatment of parturition, &c. When the pustules of small or

cow-pox burst and begin to ulcerate, the Hindu medical practi-

tioners invariably recommend the application of the paste of the

fresh margosa leaves two or three times in the twenty-four

hours, and speak highly of its healing power. As the paste is a

slight stimulant and antiseptic, I thought the supposition of

Vythians is not without foundation, and therefore watched some

of the cases under its use and found the result to be good in

all the slight and ordinary cases. In some severe forms of

ulceration from small-pox, however, it proved quite useless, as

naturally expected. On the whole, the use of the paste is quite

justifiable in many slight and ordinary cases of ulceration from

the pustules of small or cow-pox. The aroma of the fresh or

recently dried leaves is sufficient to prevent the attack of insects,

and they are therefore often placed in books and clothes by the

natives of this country ; but they are much inferior to camphor

in this respect.

" The flowers are useful in some cases of atonic dyspepsia

and general debility. The gum being bestowed with a slight

tonic action in addition to its demulcent property, it is a better

auxiliary to other remedies than Gum Arabic and feronia gum

in catarrhal and other affections, particularly when the latter

are accompanied by great debility. The toddy of the margosa

tree appears to be of great service in some chronic and long-

standing cases of leprosy and other skin diseases, consumption,

atonic dyspepsia and general debility, and although I have not

prescribed it myself, I am acquainted with several persons who

praise the drug very highly from personal use and observation.

It is, however, extremely scarce, and this is a great drawback

to its use and adoption into general practice.

"Preparations. — Of the root-bark, bark and young fruit —

Decoction, tincture and powder. Decoction : Take of the inner

layer of the root-bark, cut into small pieces, four ounces ;

water, two pints ; boil on a slow fire till the liquid is reduced to

one pint, and strain while hot. The decoction of the bark is

prepared in precisely the same manner, and in both cases the

N. 0. MELIACE^I. 305

fresh bark is preferable to the dry and old one. In preparing

the decoction of the fruit, they should be selected when they

are very young or before attaining half of their natural size ;

cut into small slices and dry in the sun ; and then their propor-

tion to the water and the method of boiling and straining are

exactly the same as in the decoction of root-bark. Tincture :

Take of the inner layer of the root-bark or bark, in coarse pow-

der, four ounces ; alcohol or proof spirit, one pint ; macerate

for seven days in a closed vessel with occasional agitation,

press, filter and add more spirit, if necessary, to make one

pint. Powder : The inner layer of the root-bark or bark, or

the dry young fruit, may be reduced to powder, passed

through a fine sieve and kept in a closed vessel. Of the leaves,

nuts and oil — Decoction, paste or poultice and solution. De-

coction : Take of the fresh leaves, four ounces ; water, two

pints; boil till the liquid is reduced to half of its quantity, and

strain when cool. Paste or poultice : Bruise and rub the fresh

leaves with hot or cold water in a stone mortar, till they are

reduced to a soft and pulpy mass. Solution : Bruise and rub

the kernel of the nuts with cocoanut oil, water or some other

liquid, in a mortar till it becomes well mixed and thin. The

oil is either applied by itself or in combination with other

drugs, as chaulmugra oil, &c. Of the flowers — Infusion : Take

of the flowers, three ounces ; hot water, one pint or just suffi-

cient to cover the flowers ; infuse in a covered vessel for an

hour and strain. Of the gum — Mucilage, which is prepared

in the same way as the corresponding preparation of the

Indian Gum Arabic, under the head of Preparation, in the

article Aeaeia Arabiea. Of the toddy — There is no pre-

paration of the sap or margosa toddy, it being always used

alone.

" Doses— -Of the decoction of the root-bark, bark or youni

fruit, from one-and-a-half to three fluid ounces ; of the tincture

of the root-bark or stem bark, from one to three fluid drachms ;

and of the powder of any of the above drugs, from one to

two drachms; three or four times in the twenty-four hounj.

Of the infusion of flowers, from one-and-a-half, to three fluid

39

306 INDIAN MEDICINAL PLANTS.

ounces ; of the mucilage of the gum, from one to two fluid

ounces ; three or four times in the twenty-four hours

" Remarks — No less than nine parts of the margosa nim tree

are employed in medicine, and I am not aware of any other

plant which produces so many drugs.

[Pankaj Oudhia’s Comment: Agree. I have collected information about over one million Traditional Herbal Formulations in which Allelopathically enriched Neem bark is added as secondary ingredient. You can imagine the quantum of Traditional Knowledge about Neem in India and in neighbouring countries. Unfortunately not much sincere efforts have been done to document these Formulations in systematic manner and to validate it through modern clinical trials. In Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand and Orissa Neem flowers in different forms are added in over 200,000 Formulations as nonary ingredient. These Formulations are used for prevention of Diabetes and Revitalization of Pancreas. Neem leaves are added in over 650,000 Herbal Formulations as tertiary ingredient. Please see Tables Neem-1 to Neem-800 for exhaustive details about this indigenous species.]   

" The nim or margosa to-day is an important therapeutic

agent and requires a special notice. The toddy or sap is yielded

either spontaneously or extracted artificially. In the former

case, a clear and colorless liquid begins to flow in a very thin

stream or continuous drops, from two or three and sometimes

more parts of the plant, and continues to do so from three to

seven weeks. The trunk and large branches and roots are

the parts from which the flow takes place through very small

and recent cracks or fissures, and the quantity of the liquid

discharged in the 24 hours from the whole tree varies from two

to eight bottles according to its size. Of the several margosa

trees in Madras and its vicinity known to yield occasionally

the sap under discussion, there was one in Mylapore which

enjoyed the greatest repute in this respect. This plant was

in a small street, at the southern end of the above village,

and died about 15 or 16 years ago. It was a pretty large tree,

about 50 or 60 years old, and produced the sap every 3rd or

4th year. After the last or fourth occasion, the trunk became

rapidly hollow and the plant died soon after this. On each

occasion, before the sap began to flow, there was always, for

three or four days, a distinct and peculiar rushing or pumping

noise of a liquid within the trunk, which did not entirely cease

till the discharge actually commenced from three or four parts

of the plant.

"The above phenomenon being a sure forerunner of the

flow of the sap, as just explained, the owner of the plant (Faiz

Ahmed Khan) always gave notice of its occurrence to all his

neighbours and many other persons, with a view to be prepared

to avail themselves of this extremely rare medicine if they were

in need of it. The fame of the sap as a curative agent was

certainly so great that the plant was surrounded by people

morning and 'evening, who bought and drank the drug very

N. 0. MRLIACEiE. o07

eagerly. The price of it was very variable, but generally

between 4 and 10 annas per bottle, and at one time it rose to a

rupee for the same quantity. The sap was more or less bit-

terish in taste, with a slight and peculiar aroma of the nira tree

and was never known to ferment or possess any intoxicating

property. The word toddy is, therefore, not correctly applica-

ble to this liquid drug. I have already mentioned the diseases

which were most benefited by its use, under the heading of

' Therapeutic Uses.'

" The nim trees which yield the sap artificial^ seem to be

more rare, for I have heard only of three or four of such plants.

All these are said to have been pretty young and large trees,

and were found near water or on the banks of nullas or water-

courses which were constantly wet. The air passing through

nim trees is thought to be highly beneficial to health, and hence

the practice among the natives of planting nim trees near their

dwelling-houses. Many Europeans even believe in this, espe-

cially in the North- Western Provinces and Oudh, and frequently

cite villages surrounded with nim trees as proverbially free

from fever, while adjoining villages have suffered severely.

Dr. C. Macnamara advocates the use of the watery extract of

dry leaves in leprosy (Moodeen Sheriff)."

The seeds are eaten as a substitute for almonds (Trimen.)

The dried leaves powdered are applied locally to the anus

of children suffering from intestinal worms (B. D. Basu).

The Therapeutic uses of Neem— By Major D. B. Spencer, I. M. S.—

I have used the leaves, bark, and oil of Neem. All parts of the plant are

medicinal.

1. Leaves. A handful of leaves, crushed and flattened, will make an excel-

lent poultice for boils and sores ; its action is stimulant and antiseptic.

The dried leaves I have used to preserve books and clothes from vermin.

Internally, two ounces of fresh leaves, made into an infusion, with a pint of

boiling water, form an exceedingly useful bitter vegetable tonic and alter-

ative. It has a marked action upon the liver— the stools often become brilliant

yellow in colour after its use.

This infusion is also valuable in chronic malarial fever, although not so

efficacious as the oil. In chronic syphilitic affections it acts as a powerful

alterative. I have used it also in leprosy, but, except perhaps in one case, it

had no specific effect upon the disease.

308 INDIAN MEDICINAL PLANTS.

2. The bark has astringent, antiperiodic, and alterative properties, and

may be used as an infusion in the same way as the leaves. [Pankaj Oudhia’s Comment: Agree.]

8. The oil, I think, is the most active medicinal part of the plant. Ex-

ternally, it has stimulant, antiseptic, and alterative properties and is very

useful in chronic syphilitic sores and indolent ulcers, which show no tendency

to heal [Pankaj Oudhia’s Comment: Agree. The use of oil is still popular among the expert Traditional Healers].. If the effect of the pure oil be found too stimulating, it should be

diluted with equal parts of some bland oil or even a weaker strength may be

necessary.

The oil is also extremely useful as a parasiticide in various cutaneous

affections, such as ringworm, scabies, and others, where the presence of any

kind of parasite may be suspected. It rapidly destroys the parasite and induces

a healthy action. When the parasite is in the deeper layers of the skin, it

will be necessary to rub the oil well in for perhaps 10 minutes or more at a

time. [Pankaj Oudhia’s Comment: Due to its odd smell it is not much popular among the natives living in urban areas. Among senior natives in rural regions the use of Neem oil for skin diseases is still popular.] I have used this oil in mange in dogs and found it useful.

Internally, the oil in 5-10 minim doses, once or twice a day, is useful in

chronic malarial fevers [Pankaj Oudhia’s Comment: In Traditional Healing oil is used tens of herbs in order to increase its efficacy.], in syphilis, leprosy and other diseases where an

alterative action is indicated. I have used it internally for the last 12 years, [Pankaj Oudhia’s Comment: It must not be used up to long time. 12 years is enough to produce the symptoms of overdose. Neem is panacea, no doubt, but its judicious use is required.]  

chiefly in chronic malarial fevers, and have no hesitation in saying that it is

a drug of undoubted value in these fevers. Vide my "Record of Indian

Fevers," 1899, published, by Messrs. Thacker, Spink & Co.

In the Indian Forester for June 1913, pp. 264-265,

Mr. T. P. Ghose, B. Sc, Assistant to Forest Chemist, Dehra

Dun, writes : —

NEEM TODDY.

In the December issue of the Indian Forester, Mr. Allen brought to

the notice of its readers the fact that leprous persons eagerly take the

exudation of Neem as a remedy against the hateful malady. This belief is

of very old standing, and has in fact originated from the old medical literature

of the Hindus. There can be no doubt about the fact that the leaves and

bark, and *also the oil out of the seeds, have specific medicinal properties.

Dr. Watt in his Dictionary of Economic Products has collected opinions of

various medical men, both Europen and Indian, about the medicinal properties

of the different parts of this tree. From all these it can easily be gathered

that the bark is a good febrifuge, and is especially useful in periodic fever,

also in thirst and nausea. The leaves as well as the oil are very useful in

skin diseases. They are also a germicide and an antiseptic. Since so many

parts of this tree are medicinal, specially when some of them have specific

action on the skin, it is but natural that people should ascribe some valuable

medicinal properties to its spontaneous exudation. It is not every day that

the Neem begins spontaneously to exude the toddy, and therefore the rarity

of the occurrence adds a good deal to the importance of this product in

popular estimation.

A sample of toddy received from Rai Bahadur Har Swarup, Conservator of

Forests, Gwalior State, was chemically examined to find out its constituents

and to ascertain whether there is any active principle that might produce the

effects popularly ascribed to it. The toddy was a milk-like whitish emulsion

N. O. MELIACEiE. 309

with a pale yellow tinge. It was sweet in taste and possessed the peculiar

aromatic odour of full ripe Neem fruits. On boiling and removing the

precipitated albuminous matter, a limpid faintly yellow solution was obtained.

Angle of rotation of this solution at 15°C was + 1L°C. Its specific gravity at

the same temperature Avas 1*0-589.

The following is the general composition of the material :—

Moisture ... ... ... ... 86*56 per cen r -.

Proteids ... ... ... ... 0*36 „

Gums and colouring matter ... ... ... 6*17 ,.

Glucose (grape sugar) ... ... ... 2*99 .,

Sucrose (cane sugar) ... ... ... 3'5l ,,

Ash ... ... .. ... ... 0*41 „

Petroleum ether extracted from the dried solids of the toddy only a trace

of fatty and resinous matter. Tests for alkaloidal and glucosidal principle

were in the negative.

Qualitative analysis of the ash showed the presence of potassium, iron,

aluminium, calcium and carbon dioxide in it.

From the above analysis it can easily be seen that the toddy cannot claim

any special medicinal properties. It is, like all other toddies, a syrupy

solution of sugar plus a little albuminous and gummy matter with the peculiar

odour of ripe Neem fruits. The valuable active principle of Neem which is

an alkaloid according to Cornish and a resinous body according to Broughton

(vide Watt's Dictionary of Economic Products), is absent. Hence the Neem

toddy can be said to be a cooling nutrient and stimulating tonic, but it does

not seem to contain anything which can be said to be useful for leprosy or

other skin-diseases.

Dr. Watt also mentions the tapping of Neem for its toddy. This is not

a general practice, but if it can be successfully tapped, and if it is made

available in large quantities, then it might be a fruitful source of country

liquor or even alcohol, and in that case the tree might well be brought under

the Excise Act.

This investigation was carried out under the instructions of the Forest

Chemist.

[Pankaj Oudhia’s Comment: The use of so called Neem Toddy is still popular among the Traditional Healers. Ancient literature gives much detail about its uses both internally as well as externally. I have written a lot on unique properties and medicinal uses of Neem Toddy.]

E-documents on Neem

http://ecoport.org/ep?SearchType=earticleList&Author=oudhia&Text=neem

Citation

Oudhia, Pankaj (2013). Pankaj Oudhia’s Notes on Azadirachta indica A.Juss. [Kirtikar, Kanhoba Ranchoddas, and Baman Das Basu. "Indian Medicinal Plants." Indian Medicinal Plants. (1918)]. www.pankajoudhia.com