No documentation.
Azadirachta indica tree will grow to heights of up to 30 meters with branching limbs extending 10 to 18 meters. It has dark green compound leaves with serrated leaflets that are long and thin. These compound leaves can grow up to 6 or 7 centimeters in length. It is often planted as a windbreaker.
A. indica tree is native to parts of India and Burma. It is an evergreen tree that must grow in tropical regions. It can grow with minimal rainfall and extreme heat. It was introduced to Africa and Asia and then in the late 19th century, it was introduced to some areas of Central America.
About 140 different chemical constituents have been identified in Oguw Akom. Included are diterpenoids, liminoids, and triterpenoids, as well as coumarins, fatty acids and their derivatives, flavonoids, steroids, sulfur compounds and hydrocarbons [1].
Bark, root bark, leaves, flowers, fruit, seeds, berries, oil and resin [2][3].
Though native to the Indian subcontinent, A. indica is widely used throughout African traditional medicine, most commonly on the West Coast. It is such a popular medicine that it is rare to see an unscathed tree near any homestead, as the bark is often scraped off the tree in order to treat numerous maladies [2].
A. indica is one of the most popular malaria remedies throughout Africa. In order to treat the symptoms of malaria, either a decoction of the bark or the leaves, and in some cases both, is ingested [3]. In lieu of ingestion, A. indica has also been used to treat malaria in the form of a vapor bath, often with numerous other herbs added into the bath [4]. A. indica is also used commonly as a stomachic. An infusion of the flowers has been used to treat gastrointestinal discomfort as well as diarrhea [2].
A. indica is used in order to treat fever of various origins. The bark is infused and ingested to treat headache and fever [5]. In cases in which fever is accompanied with fatigue or stomach pain, a decoction of A. indica leaves is drunk [3].
Another common usage of A. indica is as a treatment for numerous skin disorders. In cases of ulcerated skin, a decoction of A. indica and Ocimum americanum is applied topically [3]. Syphilitic sores have been treated by a wash made from a decoction of the bark [3].
Pre-clinical
Numerous studies have investigated the antimalarial activities of Oguw Akom [6]. The leaf extract appears to have antiretroviral activity [7] and there are efforts underway to use the water extract of the leaf to develop new drug therapies [8]. The plant leaves contain the lemonoid gedunum which has demonstrated activity against two clones of Plasmodium falciparum and in laboratory analysis appeared to be as effective as chloroquine [9]. In addition to viewing the properties of A. indica as candidates for treating malaria, the oil from this plant has been shown to have insecticidal and insect repellant properties [10][11][12][13][14]. The oil is sometimes applied topically and sometimes is burned with kerosene as a repellant [15]. A. indica extract appears to have demonstrated similar properties to the oil as a topical repellant [16]. Some laboratory analysis has also been conducted on the insect repellant effects of the fruit [17].
The investigation of A. indica as a potential drug development candidate in cancer therapy [18][19] has included research into its immunotherapeutic [20] and cytotoxic properties [21]. In addition, laboratory studies have indicated that the leaf extract may induce tumor cellular apoptosis [22]. Animal studies (designed to research new drug candidates) have found that the leaf extract initiates an immune response (Th 1 type) against breast tumor associated antigens [23]. One of the triterpenoids extracted from the flower of the plant (nimbolide) has been examined for its ability to improve the effectiveness of cell cycle disruption [24] [25].
Animal models of A. indica have studied the anti-secretory and anti-ulcer properties of the bark extract [26]. Additionally, A. indica has been studied as an anti-inflammatory, anti-mutagenic, antioxidant [28] antifungal, antiparasitic [29] and antibacterial [30][31]. The antibacterial properties have been studied in regard to the role of this herb in dentistry [32][33]. It has also been studied and developed into a cream to be used as a contraceptive with positive results [34].
Clinical
A small human study of 10 patients found that the extract of the seeds exhibits hypoglycemic effects in Type 2 diabetes [27].
Interaction with other Herbs
No documentation.
Interaction with Drugs
Due to the various plant parts used and the pharmacologic activities of each plant part, this herb should be used with caution in combination with conventional drug therapies.
Based on pharmacology, this herb should be used with caution in individuals taking medication for diabetes due to its hypoglycemic activities [27].
Side effects
No documentation.
Pregnancy
Not to be used by pregnant or nursing women.
Age limitation
Not to be used in children.
Due to the various plant parts used and the pharmacologic activities of each plant part, this herb should be used with caution in combination with conventional drug therapies.
Based on pharmacology, this herb should be used with caution in individuals taking medication for diabetes due to its hypoglycemic activities [27].
Adverse reaction
A case of contact dermatitis was reported from use of the oil on the scalp of a patient with alopecia [35].
The root bark is poisonous in large doses.
1) Western Herb
2) Ayuverda