According to Rawat, The neem tree was considered a gift of God and the panacea for all diseases. In an old Indian proverb it was said, The land where the neem tree abound, Can death, disease therein be found?
Both neem leaves and fruits (seeds) have been used for agricultural, veterinary, cosmetic and pharmaceutical purposes. The active ingredient in neem is called Azadirachtin. Azadirachtin is contained in seeds in larger proportion than the leaves hence the seeds is the most useful part of neem. Neem is almost non-toxic to mammals and is biodegradable. Neem seeds contain oil with embedded Azadirachtin that can be obtained through Mechanical cold-press or Solvent Extraction Method. Mechanical cold-press method is considered an organic method of extraction. When oil is pressed out, what is left over is Neem Cake, when neem cake is ground, it becomes Neem cake powder.
In Agriculture, Neem oil is used as a botanical pesticide, fungicide and Miticide. It is safe on plants, crops and livestock and is environmentally friendly. Neem oil acts as a broad-spectrum repellent, growth regulator and insects poison. It discourages feeding by making plants or crops/seeds unpalatable to insects. thus, it is systemic in action. It is able to control insect pests such as Caterpillars, Cabbage worms, Fall Army Worm (FAW), Southern Army Worm (SAW), Cut Worms, Boll Worms, White Flies, Stem borers, Leaf Miners, Caterpillars, Aphids, Leafhoppers, Psyllids, Scales, Mites, Thrips, Cucumber beetle, etc. It controls fungal infections such as downy mildew affecting plant. In Veterinary and human medicine, It is an effective treatment against fungal infections on livestock, pets ( including Dogs, Horses, Donkey, Goat, Sheep, Cattle, Pigs, Cats, Small Animals) and human beings. It has been used to treat skin problems such as Open wounds, Sores, Dandruff, Eczema, Ringworm, etc. In cosmetics, neem oil is used to produce antiseptic or insecticidal soaps. It is used in skin and hair care products including body cream, Lotion, Shampoo, etc.
Neem cake acts as both fertilizer and pesticide. The cake contains high level of amino-acids (protein) and essential minerals.
Neem cake not only provides nutrition to the plant, but controls soil-borne pests, particularly nematodes; it also acts as a nitrification inhibitor, helps respiratory activity, increases the population of earthworms and produces organic acids, which help in removing the alkalinity of the soil. When a nitrogenous fertilizer is applied to the soil, about half of the nitrogen escapes into the air while some leaches into the soil thus mixing or coating neem cake with nitrogenous fertilizer e.g. urea, prevents nitrogen loss while slowly releasing the nitrogen for plant uptake. This brings about fertilizer use efficiency and higher profitability for farmers.
very informative
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