Age Ayurveda Nighantu

Nimba Beeja

Azadirachta indica

Nimba Beeja (Azadirachta indica) is a plant used in Ayurveda. Self-emulsifying drug delivery systems (SEDDS) or nanoemulsions improve bioavailability 2-4 fold. Neem seed oil fatty acids (oleic, stearic, palmitic) are well absorbed and may enhance co-absorption of lipophilic actives.

Key facts
Botanical nameAzadirachta indica
FamilyMeliaceae · other entries in this family
OrderSapindales
Also known asNimba Beeja, NimbaBeeja
Taxon identifiersGBIF 3190474 · Wikidata Q170461 · NCBI Taxonomy 124943

Names and identification

LanguageName
EnglishNimba Beeja

Ayurvedic pharmacology (Dravyaguna)

PropertyValueDescription
Rasa (Taste)TiktaPrimary taste
Guna (Quality)Snigdha, TikshnaPhysical quality
Virya (Potency)UshnaHeating/Cooling effect
Vipaka (Post-digestive)KatuPost-digestive effect

Dosage forms and preparation

Dosage Forms: Seed oil (cold-pressed), Capsule (oil-filled soft gel), Tablet (de-oiled seed cake extract), Emulsifiable concentrate, Granule (for soil application), Cream/ointment (topical)

Standard Dosage: 500-1000 mg neem seed oil in soft gel capsules daily; 1-2 g de-oiled seed cake powder daily; topical oil application diluted 2-5% in carrier oil

Bioavailability: Azadirachtin from seed has limited oral bioavailability (~10-20%) due to instability in gastric acid and poor membrane permeability. Self-emulsifying drug delivery systems (SEDDS) or nanoemulsions improve bioavailability 2-4 fold. Neem seed oil fatty acids (oleic, stearic, palmitic) are well absorbed and may enhance co-absorption of lipophilic actives. Topical bioavailability depends on oil concentration and skin integrity.

Optimal Timing: Oral: after meals with food to improve lipid-based absorption. Topical: evening application preferred; avoid sun exposure on treated areas due to photosensitivity potential.

Standardized Extract: Cold-pressed neem seed oil with minimum azadirachtin 1500 ppm, acid value <8 mg KOH/g, peroxide value <10 mEq/kg. De-oiled seed cake extract standardized to azadirachtin >0.3%.

Shelf Life: Cold-pressed oil: 12-18 months; De-oiled cake powder: 12-18 months; Soft gel capsules: 18-24 months; Standardized extract: 24 months

Storage: Oil: amber glass or HDPE containers, below 25 deg C, nitrogen headspace to prevent oxidation. Powder/extract: airtight containers, below 25 deg C, RH <50%. Avoid direct sunlight and heat sources.

Marker Compounds: Azadirachtin A, Azadirachtin B, Nimbin, Salannin, Oleic acid, Stearic acid, Palmitic acid, Gedunin

Extraction Methods

  • Cold-press mechanical extraction of seed oil (traditional Ghani method)
  • Solvent extraction with food-grade hexane (industrial scale)
  • Supercritical CO2 extraction for high-purity azadirachtin fractions
  • Aqueous kernel extraction for water-soluble bioactives
  • Enzymatic extraction for improved oil yield

Synergistic Combinations

  • Karanja seed oil (synergistic biopesticide and skin care)
  • Haridra (enhanced antimicrobial and wound-healing oil formulation)
  • Coconut oil (carrier oil with complementary antimicrobial activity)
  • Tea tree oil (synergistic antifungal for topical preparations)

Published research

Literature indexed in PubMed that concerns this subject, grouped by study type. A paper appearing here is a record of what has been published, not evidence that the subject works, and laboratory or animal results do not transfer to people. Study titles link to PubMed so you can read the source rather than take our word.

Systematic reviews and meta-analyses2

  1. Tajbakhsh E, Kwenti TE, Kheyri P and others. 2021. Antiplasmodial, antimalarial activities and toxicity of African medicinal plants: a systematic review of literatureMalaria journal. PMID 34433465 · doi:10.1186/s12936-021-03866-0
  2. Zuccotti E, Oliveri M, Girometta C and others. 2018. Nutritional strategies for psoriasis: current scientific evidence in clinical trialsEuropean review for medical and pharmacological sciences. PMID 30556896 · doi:10.26355/eurrev_201812_16554

Other clinical studies and reviews10

  1. Shaheen S, Khalid S, Aaliya K and others. 2024. Insights into Nimbolide molecular crosstalk and its anticancer propertiesMedical oncology (Northwood, London, England). PMID 38761317 · doi:10.1007/s12032-024-02379-5
  2. Mehnaz S, Shamsi Y, Akhtar MW and others. 2024. Therapeutic Applications of Neem (Azadirachta indica): A Narrative ReviewAdvances in mind-body medicine. PMID 39447127
  3. Patel N, Knabel M, Speiser J. 2024. Botanical Briefs: Neem Oil (Azadirachta indica)Cutis. PMID 38478934 · doi:10.12788/cutis.0928
  4. Maafoh C, Onyedibe K. 2024. Alternative first-line malaria treatmentAnnals of African medicine. PMID 38358164 · doi:10.4103/aam.aam_35_23
  5. Braga TM, Rocha L, Chung TY and others. 2021. Azadirachta indica A. Juss. In Vivo Toxicity-An Updated ReviewMolecules (Basel, Switzerland). PMID 33419112 · doi:10.3390/molecules26020252
  6. Patil SM, Shirahatti PS, V B CK and others. 2021. Azadirachta indica A. Juss (neem) as a contraceptive: An evidence-based review on its pharmacological efficiencyPhytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology. PMID 34092456 · doi:10.1016/j.phymed.2021.153596
  7. Sandhir R, Khurana M, Singhal NK. 2021. Potential benefits of phytochemicals from Azadirachta indica against neurological disordersNeurochemistry international. PMID 33753160 · doi:10.1016/j.neuint.2021.105023
  8. Gupta SC, Prasad S, Tyagi AK and others. 2017. Neem (Azadirachta indica): An indian traditional panacea with modern molecular basisPhytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology. PMID 28899496 · doi:10.1016/j.phymed.2017.07.001
  9. Patel SM, Nagulapalli Venkata KC, Bhattacharyya P and others. 2016. Potential of neem (Azadirachta indica L.) for prevention and treatment of oncologic diseasesSeminars in cancer biology. PMID 27019417 · doi:10.1016/j.semcancer.2016.03.002
  10. Paul R, Prasad M, Sah NK. 2011. Anticancer biology of Azadirachta indica L (neem): a mini reviewCancer biology & therapy. PMID 21743298 · doi:10.4161/cbt.12.6.16850

Consult a qualified vaidya before acting on anything here. Ayurvedic practice is prescribed to a person, not to a condition: the same dravya is given, withheld or substituted depending on your constitution, your agni, the season and what else you are already taking. A page cannot know any of that. Self-prescribing from a reference is how the wrong preparation, the wrong dose or the wrong anupana gets used.

Educational reference only. Nothing on this page is medical advice, a diagnosis, or a recommendation to take anything. Traditional uses and research findings are reported as published, not as claims about what any product does. If you take prescribed medication, raise any interaction with the prescriber rather than acting on a page. See our editorial standards.