NEEM -3
The
grandeur of Neem is not a matter of any push over in the sense that the tree
serves humanity in ways known and unknown to us. Its dimensions include social,
cultural, religious, spiritual, medicinal and ritual facets. Every social arrangement has a
place of pride for this tree.
Much
of the deep faith placed on this tree is based on its ability to serve as an
anti-microbial agent; I would go a little beyond to name its potential as
‘Anti-biotic’, as several insects , bacteria and fungi that readily invade any
wood [except Teak and a few other wood types] rarely manage to ‘attack’ even
fallen wood of ‘Neem’. So, it holds a wealth of chemical compounds that serve
to protect varied items of value to human life.
Neem gum
It
is a well-known natural exudate from living mature trees upon physical injury
to the wood. Chemically it is a ‘resin’ used as a binder and in Silk dyeing.
Besides, it is an agent used in medicine to serve as a slow-releasing agent and
as a film coat.
Pest
and disease control
Azadirachtin
–a natural compound in ‘neem’ is a powerful insecticide and is sprayed as a
water-based product on crops.
Neem
cake [solid residue from oil extraction] is used as a fertilizer both to add
nutrients to soil and also as repellent of several worms and pests in land.
Bio-pesticide
Neem
seed extracts contain limonoid triterpenes that are effective in containing
‘destroying pathogens’. Advanced approaches are used to extract the compound to
derive absolutely aseptic products to enhance their efficacy as bio-pesticide.
These
are some major aspects for the benefit of humanity from ‘Neem’.
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