Pattahabi
Well-Known Member
Actually Azadactarin is only one of the pesticide compounds found in a neem tree. There are over 300+ compounds, and we have only identified like 120 or something. However, they are packing up this one chemical and selling it at a stupid price.
Last I looked azamax was neem oil in a fancy bottle and price ...lol
aza dectin is neem oil ...to my blog: https://www.rollitup.org/Journal/Entry/neem-oil.27514/
http://www.amazon.com/oz-Control-Organic-Insecticide-Solution/dp/B004WOSDUY
CHEMISTRY OF NEEM
To give a brief background, chemical investigations of neem were undertaken by Indian
pharmaceutical chemists in 1919, whereby they isolated acidic principle in neem oil,
which they named as ‘margosic acid”. However, real chemical research originated in
1942 with isolation of three active constituents, viz, nimbin, nimbidin and nimbinene.
In 1963 an Indian scientist extensively examined the chemistry of the active principles of
neem. Following the discovery of neem kernel as a locust feeding deterrent, its
chemistry has grown considerably. Several compounds have been isolated and
characterized. The main feature is that most of them are chemically similar and
biogenetically derivable from a tetracyclicterpenes. These are also called liminoids
(azadirachtin, meliantrol, salanin etc.) bitter principles and occur in other botanical
species as well (Rutaceae and Simaroubaceae). The unraveling of high complex
structural features and biogenetic interrelationship represent classic piece of work on
natural product chemistry. From the practical side these compounds also exhibit a wide
variety of biological activity, for example, pesticides, antifeedants, and cytotoxic
properties.
Leaves maily yield quercetin (flavonoid) and nimbosterol
(β- sitosterol) as well as number of liminoids (nimbin and
its derivatives). Quercetin (a polyphenolic flavonoid) is
known to have antibacterial and antifungal properties. This
may perhaps account for the curative properties of leaves
for sores and scabies. Limonoids like nimocinolide and
isonimocinolide affect fecundity in house flies (Musca
domestica) at a dose ranging between 100 and 500 ppm.
They also show mutagenic properties in mosquitoes
(Aedes aegypti) producing intermediates. Fresh matured
leaves yield an odorous viscous essential oil, which
exhibits antifungal activity against fungi (Trichophyton mentagrophytes) in vitro. White
crystalline flakes obtained from petroleum ether extract of leaves consisting of a mixture
of C 14, C 24, C 31 alkanes were found to exceed or equal the lavicidal activity of
pyrethrum extract. The principal constituents of neem leaves include protein (7.1%),
carbohydrates (22.9%), minerals, calcium, phosphorus, vitamin C, carotene etc. But they
also contain glutamic acid, tyrosine, aspartic acid, alanine, praline, glutamine and cystine
like amino acids, and several fatty acids (dodecanoic, tetradecanoic, elcosanic, etc.).
Besides, the essential oil consisting of sesquiterpene derivatives, the flowers contain
nimbosterol and flavonoids like kaempferol, melicitrin etc. Flowers also yield a waxy
material consisting of several fatty acids, viz., behenic (0.7%), arachidic (0.7%), stearic
(8.2%), palmitic (13.6%), oleic (6.5%) and linoleic (8.0%). The pollen of neem contains
several amino acids like glumatic acid, tyrosine, arginine, methionion, phenylalanine,
histidine, arminocaprylic acid and isoleucine.
The trunk bark contains nimbn (0.04%), nimbinin (0.001%), nimbidin (0.4%), nimbosterol
(0.03%), essential oil (0.02%), tannins (6.0%), a bitter principle margosine and 6-
desacetyl nimbinene. The stem bark contains tannins (12-16%) and non-tannin (8-11%).
The bark contains anti-inflammatory polysaccharide consisting of glucose, arabinose and
fructose at a molar ratio 1:1:1 with molecular weight of 8,400. The bark also yields an
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antitumor polysaccharide. Besides polysaccharides, several diterpenoids, viz.,
nimbinone, nimbolicin, margocin, nimbidiol, nimbione, etc. have been isolated from stem
bark and root bark.
Besides β- sitosterol, 24-methylenelophenol and nimatone, the heartwood contains,
calcium, potassium and iron salts. The heartwood on destructive distillation gives
charcoal (30%) and pyroligeneous acid (38.4%). Neem wood contains, cellulose,
hemicellulose (14.00%) and lignin (14.63%), while wood oil contains β-sitosterol,
cycloeucalenol and 24- methylenecyceloartenol.
The tree exudes a gum, which on hydrolysis yields, L-arabinose, L-fucose, D-galactose
and D-glucoronic acid. The older tree exudes a sap containing free sugars (glucose,
fructose, mannose and xylose), amino acids (alanine, aminobutyric acid, arginine,
asparagines, aspartic acid, glycine, norvaline, praline, etc) and organic acids (citric,
malonic, succinic and fumaric). The sap is reported to be useful in the treatment of
general weakness and skin diseases.
Seed is very important both because of its high lipid content as well as the occurrence of
a large number of bitter principles (azadirachtin, azadiradione, fraxinellone, nimbin,
salannin, salannol, vepinin, vilasinin, etc.) in considerable quantities. Azadirachtin has
proven effectiveness as a pesticide against about 200 insect species and is reported as
non-toxic to humans. Neem kernel lipids are similar to the normal glycerides from other
oilseeds and contains oleic acid (50-60%), palmitic acid (13-15%), stearic acid (14-19%),
linoleic acid (8-16%) and arachidic acid (1-3%). It is brownish yellow, non-drying oil with
an acrid taste and unpleasant odour. The quality of the oil differs with the method of
processing.
The composition of neem cake after the extraction of oil varies widely depending on the
raw material used for expelling, for example, whole dried fruits, seeds or kernels. The
range of the proximate composition in percentage are: crude protein 13-35,
carbohydrates 26-50, crude fibre 8-26, fat 2-13, ash 5-18, acid insoluble ash 1-7. The
bitter cake has no value as animal or poultry feed. Extraction of cake with 70% alcohol
followed by hexane yields a meal free from bitterness and odour, which will be
satisfactory as feed. The neem cake is rich in most of the amino acids. It is a potential
source of organic manure and contains many plant nutrients, viz., nitrogen 2-3%,
phosphorus 1% and potassium 1.4%. It also contains 1.0-1.5% tannic acid and has the
highest sulphur content of 1.07 – 1.36% among the oil cakes. The neem cake contains a
large number of triterpenoids, more of which are being discovered.
Peace!
P-