Pharmacological study of Nimba(Azadirachta indica) in relation to Shalakya.
1.
2. Introduction
About the Drug
Pharmacological Study of properties
Pharmacological actions of the Nimba in
diseases of Shalakya
Conclusion
References
3. Pranah panabhritah yatrasritah
sarvenndriyanicha... (Charaka)
Shiras is the vital organ (among the 3 marmas)
according to Ayurveda.
which is base for “5” senses, so it is called as
Uttamanga of the entire body.
The diseases pertaining to this part dealt in
Shalakya tantra of Ashtanga Ayurveda.
Nimba is vividly used in the treatments of Shalakya.
The phytochemicals such as Nimbidin, Nimbin,
Nimbinin etc.are present in it, make the plant
useful in the treatment.
4. Nimba –Azadirachta indica belong to family –
Meliaceae.
The useful parts of the plant in Shalakya are:
Leaves Oil Flowers
Bark
Seeds
Twigs
5. The Ayurvedic properties of the Nimba are:
Rasa: Tikta, Kashaya. Guna: Laghu.
Virya: Sita. Vipaka: Katu.
The Chemical compositions
Bark - Nimbidin 0.5%, Nimbin0.03%,
Nimbinin0.001%, Nibosterol0.03%, Olatile
Oil0.02%, Tanin6%,and A Bitter Substance
Margosine.
Seed oil- Sulphur, Resins, Glucosides, Fatty Acids.
Leaves- the flavanoid Quercetin and Nimbosterol as
well as a number of Limonoids. Quercetin, a
polyphenolic flavonoid, is known to have
Antibacterial and Antifungal properties.
6. The therapeutic indications in Uttamanga : It’s
mainly used in Kapha Pitta janya vikaras.
Nimba leaves-Netryam, Kriminut, Pittanuth,and,
and in combination with other herbs acts
as Sothaghna, Kandughna, Vyadhapaha.
Nimba seeds: as paste (Kalka) indicated in bahya
krimi (head lice).
7. Nimba oil: as Nasal drops in Palitya & khalitya.
Nimba bark: as kashayam (infusion) to clean the
auditory canal in CSOM.
Nimba leaves and flowers: its juice used as eye drops in
Abhishyanda etc diseases.
Nimba extract: in yuvana pitika and
infective conditions.
8. Analgesic effect: In a Study done by Kumar et al.,
(2012) by using albino rats, it was found that Neem
seed oil (NSO) of 2ml/kg body weight is
comparable to morphine with a dose of 1mg/kg
body weight, NSO produces a better analgesic
effect than morphine with 45 minute of interval
and in another similar study done by Srinivasa et
al., (2014) it were stated that Neem resembles
indomethacine.
9. Antibacterial: In study done by Vashist and Jindal,
(2012) the Azadirachta indica seeds poses an
antibacterial activity against the bacteria that
causes eye infection (Ophthalmic infection) such as
Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus pyogenes,
Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa.
10. Antihyperglycemic agent: A dose of 250 mg/kg of
aqueous extract of fresh leaves of Neem was
administrated orally onto streptozotocin induced
and its associated retinopathy in rats for 16 weeks
and resulted in significant fall in blood glucose level
and serum lipids and there were slight increase in
HDL level. The slight increase indicates the extract
as positive effect in lipid metabolism of diabetic
rats. Furthermore the plant completely reversed
the unusual changes in the retina of the rats
(Hussain, 2002).
11. Antifungal effects Aqueous and ethanolic extract
of Neem leaves were found effective against Candida
albicans by which these organism shows sensitivity at
the concentration of 15% and 7.5% on aqueous
extract and the Minimum Inhibitory Concentration
(MIC) was 7.5%. In the ethanolic extraction Candida
albicans were found to be susceptible at the
concentration of 15%, 7.5% and 3.75%, besides that;
the MIC were 3.75% ( Aarati et al., 2011).
12. Antiviral The aqueous extract of Neem bark
were found to be effective against Herpes
simplex virus type 1 by blocking its entry into
natural target cell (Tiwari et al., 2010).
13. Netra rogas: Acc. to Ayurveda, Netra is Pitta
dominant sense organ which is hurted by Kapha
dosha. Nimba due to its tikta rasa mitigates both
Kapha and Pitta simultaneously. So it can be used
in conditions with Swelling, itching, and redness.
Eg: Abhishyanda (conjunctivitis), Krimigranthi
(chronic blepharitis).
According to modern Pharmacology the drug can
act as an Antibiotic, Antiviral, Antifungal and
Analgesic so it can be used in above said
conditions.
In addition the Antihyperglycemic action it can be
used in patients of Diabetic Retinopathy along with
their parent medication.
14. Mukha rogas: Acc. to Ayurveda the oral hygiene is
maintained by danta dhavana. For danta dhavana
the twigs used. Which protect the danta, danta-
moola and talu by its tikta and Kashaya rasas,
which prevent bleeding gums, halitosis, krimi danta
etc.
Acc. to modern Pharmacology by having
Antibacterial and Antifungal properties the drug
can fulfil above condition.
15. Karna rogas: Acc. to Ayurveda in karna roga the
cleaning has to be done with the Kashaya of
Nimba due to its Kashaya rasa.
Apart from that due to its ropana property the
drug is used in combination for the dressing in post
surgical cases. Eg: Vrana sodhana taila- karna pali
sandhana and mild perforation in tympanic
membrane.
According to modern pharmacology the drug can
be act as an Antibiotic, Antifungal and Analgesic so
it supports the above point.
16. Siro / kapala rogas: Acc. to Ayurveda the bahya
krimis are yuka and liksha which are present on
scalp. The seed paste is used for this purpose
because of its krimihara property due to its
tiktarasa and presence of Gandhaka amsa in it.
Apart from this in khalitya (hair fall), Palitya
(graying of hair) its oil used as nasal drops which
pacifies the obstruction caused by Kapha and Pitta
dosha at hair follicles.
According to modern pharmacology the drug can
as Germicidal which supports the first point.
Coming to the second point by Anti fungal action.
17. The drug Nimba is well known for kushta and
Antra Vikaras.
The usages of its 5 parts in various forms
Bahukalpam.
The wide range of action of its chemical
constituents Bahugunam.
The drug is very economical and abundantly
available in our county Sampannam.
Yogyam it’s vividly used in the diseases of
Uttamanga.
Further studies on Nimba in the pharmacological
front will give good number of products in our
hand. That is the utmost attainment of a
Pharmacological Study.
18. Charaka samhita by R.k Sharma and Bhagavan das
sutra sthana trimarmiya adhyaya.
Susruta samhita by Kavirak kunjan lal Bhishagratna
uttara sthana.
Dravyaguna vignana by Acharya P.V.Sharma vol.2
Bhava prakasha nighantu of sri Bhava mishra by sri
Brahma shankara mishra and sri Rupalal ji vaidya.
Action and uses of Indigenous Ophthalmic drugs by
Dr.N.Srikanth.
19. e-reference International Journal of Biosciences | IJB |
ISSN: 2220-6655 (Print) 2222- 5234 (Online)
http://www.innspub.net Vol. 5, No. 6, p. 104-112,
2014Pharmacological and non pharmacological activity
of Azadirachta indica (Neem) - A review Muthulinggam
Nishan1*, Partiban Subramanian2
1Department of Biomedical Science, Faculty of
Biomedicine and Health, ASIA Metropolitan University
2Department of Biomedical Science, Faculty of
Biomedicine and Health, ASIA Metropolitan University,
G-8 Jalan Kemacahaya 11, Taman Kemacahaya, Batu 9,
43200 Cheras, Selangor, Malaysia .
20. Dr. Ch. Ramadevi M.D, (PhD.) Associate. Professor.
Dr. T. Praveen Kumar M.D, Professor. P.G.Shalakya
Department.
Organizers of SRESHTA -2015
Department of Dravya Guna.
Dr.B.R.K.R.Govt. Ayurvedic college S.R.Nagar
Hyderabad-500038.