The Pharmacological Study of

Nimba (Azadirachta indica)

relation to SHALAKYA.

By: Dr. Pancha janya Kumar.

Deevi
P.G Scholar Shalakya- P.G unit.
Dr. B.R.K.R.Govt. Ayurvedic

in

Contents

Introduction
About the Drug
Pharmacological Study of
properties
Pharmacological actions of the
Nimba in diseases of Shalakya
Conclusion
References

Introduction

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,

About the Drug

Nimba Azadirachta indica belong to family

Meliaceae.
The useful parts of the plant in Shalakya are:
Leaves

Oil

Flowers

Bark

Seeds

Twigs

About the Drug

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.

About the Drug

The therapeutic indications in

Uttamanga : Its mainly used in
Kapha Pitta janya vikaras.
Nimba leaves-Netryam, Kriminut,
Pittanuth,and, and in combination
with other herbs acts
as Sothaghna, Kandughna,
Vyathapaha.
Nimba seeds: as paste (Kalka)
indicated in bahya krimi (head lice).

About the Drug

Nimba oil: as Nasal drops in Palitya &

khalitya.

Nimba bark: as kashayam (infusion) to

clean the auditory canal.
Nimba leaves and flowers: its juice used as
eye drops in Abhishyanda etc diseases.

Nimba extract: in yuvana pitika and

infective conditions.

Pharmacological Study of properties

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.

Pharmacological Study of
properties

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,

Pharmacological Study of properties

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

Pharmacological Study of
properties

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).

Pharmacological Study of
properties

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).

Pharmacological
actions of the
Nimba in diseases
Netra rogas: Acc. to Ayurveda, Netra is Pitta
of Shalakya
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.

Pharmacological actions of the

Nimba in diseases of Shalakya
Mukha rogas: Acc. to Ayurveda the oral
hygiene is maintained by danta dhavana,
kavala, gandusha dharana etc. For danta
dhavana the twigs and for gandusha bark
Kashaya are useful. 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.

Pharmacological
actions of the
Nimba in diseases
of Shalakya
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.
According to modern pharmacology
the drug can be act as an Antibiotic,

Pharmacological actions of the

Nimba in diseases of Shalakya

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.

Conclusion

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 Sampanam.
Yogyam its 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.

References

Charaka samhita by R.k Sharma and

Bhagavan das sutra sthana trimarmiya
adhyaya.
Susruta samhita by Kavirak kunjan lal
Bhishagratna uttara sthana.
Dravyaguna viga by Acharya P.V.Sharma
vol.2
Bhava prakasha nighantu of sri bhava
mishra by sri brahma shankara mishra and
sri rupalal ji vaisya.
Action and uses of Indigenous Ophthalmic
drugs by Dr.N.Srikanth.

References

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 .

Acknowledgement

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.