Azadirachta indica A.Juss.

Neem (Azadirachta indica) is a tree up to 10-25 meters tall of the Meliaceae family, native to Madhya Pradesh, India, estimated to have entered Java since the 1500s. Its nimbin and nimbidin compound content makes it effective as a natural pesticide as well as an ingredient in Chinese, Ayurvedic, and Unani medicine. Neem is traditionally believed to be anti-inflammatory and to help address diabetes.

A plant that can be found in areas up to elevations of 1,500 m above sea level, annual temperature 26-40°C, and soil pH range of 5.5-7. Grows in tropical and subtropical regions, with annual rainfall of 450-1,200 mm/year.

• Root a taproot, cylindrical, brown.
• Stem upright and woody, thick bark, rough.
• Leaves compound opposite arrangement, evenly pinnate, oblong shape with serrated edges, pointed tip, arranged spirally clustered at the chain tip, up to 5-7 cm long, 3-4 cm wide.
• Flowers white in color both the sepals and stamens, sepals and corolla five each.
• Fruit oval-shaped, when ripe the fruit flesh is yellow in color.
• Seeds round, diameter approximately 1 cm, green in color, seed coat somewhat hard.

• Propagated generatively (seed), seeds come from physiologically ripe fruit.
• Propagated vegetatively (cuttings) from young woody branches.

Leaves: β-sitosterol, hyperoside, nimbolide, quercetin, quercitrin, rutin, azadirachtin, nimbine, 6-desacetylnimbine, nimbolide compounds. Seeds: azadirachtin, salanin, meliantriol, nimbin, nimbidin.

Anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, antidiabetic, addresses fever, cardiovascular disease. Leaves: appetite booster, addresses dysentery, ulcers, malaria. Oil: addresses eczema, germ-killing healing. Bark: addresses stomach pain, fever reducer.

• Prepare fresh neem leaves.
• Wash thoroughly.
• Dry by air-drying or using an oven at 40°C.
• Once dry, grind into powder.
• Store the simplisia in an airtight container.

Imba, Mempheuh (Madura), Intaran (Bali).