• Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
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• v.34 no.4
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• pp.350-354
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• 2015

BACKGROUND: Botanical insecticides, especially Azadirachta Indica extract (AIE) and Sophorae radix extract (SRE) are widely used in Agriculture field. In our previous studies on genotoxicity test of AIE and SRE samples, a suspicious clastogenic properties was shown. Herein, we investigated the DNA damage effect of these botanical insecticide samples through the in vitro comet assay. METHODS AND RESULTS: Chinese hamster lung (CHL) fibroblast cell line was used, and methyl methanesulphonate was as positive control. Respective two samples of AIE and SRE were evaluated using Single Cell Gel Electrophoresis (Comet) assay and measured as the Olive tail moment (OTM). Results from this study indicated that all tested AIE and SRE samples did not show DNA damage in comet assay using CHL cells, compared with control. CONCLUSION: AIE and SRE samples used in this study were not cause genetic toxicity and are suitable for use as organic materials.

• Genomics & Informatics
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• v.12 no.4
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• pp.156-164
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• 2014

Cancer is the most dreaded disease in human and also major health problem worldwide. Despite its high occurrence, the exact molecular mechanisms of the development and progression are not fully understood. The existing cancer therapy based on allopathic medicine is expensive, exhibits side effects; and may also alter the normal functioning of genes. Thus, a non-toxic and effective mode of treatment is needed to control cancer development and progression. Some medicinal plants offer a safe, effective and affordable remedy to control the cancer progression. Nimbolide, a limnoid derived from the neem (Azadirachta indica) leaves and flowers of neem, is widely used in traditional medical practices for treating various human diseases. Nimbolide exhibits several pharmacological effects among which its anticancer activity is the most promising. The previous studies carried out over the decades have shown that nimbolide inhibits cell proliferation and metastasis of cancer cells. This review highlights the current knowledge on the molecular targets that contribute to the observed anticancer activity of nimbolide related to induction of apoptosis and cell cycle arrest; and inhibition of signaling pathways related to cancer progression.

• Carbon letters
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• v.9 no.3
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• pp.188-194
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• 2008

Porous carbon materials synthesized from various plant derived precursors i.e. seeds of [Castor (Ricinus communis), Soap nut (Sapindus sp.), Cashew-nut (Semecarpus anacardium), Jack fruit (Artocarpus heterophyllus), Safflower (Carthamus tinctorius), Ambadi (Crotolaria juncea), Neem (Azadirachta indica), Bitter Almond (Prunus amygdalus), Sesamum (Sisamum indicum), Date-palm (Phoenix dactylifera),Canola (Brassica napus), Sunflower (Helianthus annulus)] and fibrous materials from [Corn stem- (Zea mays), Rice straw (Oryza sativa), Bamboo (Bombax bambusa) and Coconut fibers (Cocos nucifera)] were screened to make supercapacitor in 5M KOH solution. Carbon material obtained from Jack fruit seeds (92.0 F/g), Rice straw (83.0 F/g), Soap nut seeds (54.0 F/g), Castor seeds (44.34 F/g) and Bamboo (40.0 F/g) gave high capacitance value as compared to others. The magnitude of capacitance value was found to be inversely proportional to the scan rate of measurement. It is suggested that carbon material should possess large surface area and small pore size to get better value of capacitor. Moreover, the structure of carbon materials should be such that majority of pores are in the plane parallel to the plane of electrode and surface is fluffy like cotton ball.

• Mycobiology
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.128-133
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• 2004

Twenty plant extracts were tested against mycelial growth, sclerotium formatiom and dry weight of mycelium with sclerotia of Sclerotium rolfsii Sacc. The highest(90 mm) mycelial growth was measured in Adhatoda vasica, Tegetes erecta, Allium cepa, and Curcuma longa. The lowest(25 mm) was in Azadirachta indica. No mycelial growth was found in any concentration of cow, buffalo, and goat urine. The highest(90 mm) and the lowest(15 mm) mycelial growth were measured in Biomil and Urea, respectively. No mycelial growth was observed in Zinc. The highest(60 mm) and the lowest(2 mm) mycelial growth were recorded in Macuprex(Dodine; 65% WP) and Boron(100% Boric acid and 17% Boron) respectively. Mycelial growth was totally inhibited in Rovral(Iprodione; 50% WP).

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.95 no.5
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• pp.524-531
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• 2006

Neem tree (Azadirachta indica), native to the Indian sub-continent, has been known since the ancient time for its medicinal and insect repellent properties. In recent years, Neem has attracted global attention due to its potential as a source of natural drugs and also environment-friendly pesticides. In the households. The distribution and traditional practice on Neem can be important to the agriculturist, ethno-pharmaceutical developers and to the rural development practitioners in Bangladesh. An exploratory survey on the distribution and traditional practice on Neem tree in the rural homesteads of Chittagong coastal plain, Bangladesh, was conducted over a period of three months from September 2002 to November 2002. It was found that maximum, 64% households used seedling as planting material having 40% maximum sources Within the major tree species present in the homesteads, Neem accounted for 12% among the total individuals. It was found that the availability of Neem trees was found maximum, 31%, in the homesteads of medium sized households. Maximum, 42% individuals of Neem were found within the DBH of 10.1 to 20 cm; and 37% within the 3.1 to 6 m height classes. Neem trees were found to be used maximum, 88% for furniture. The findings of the study will be of immense importance for the rural development practitioners and ethno pharmacological developers in Bangladesh.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.17 no.5
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• pp.2637-2641
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• 2016

Tumor necrosis factor ($TNF-{\alpha}$), an inflammatory cytokine that plays an important role in the control of cell proliferation, differentiation, and apoptosis, has previously been used in anti-cancer therapy. However, the therapeutic applications of $TNF-{\alpha}$ are largely limited due to its general toxicity and anti-apoptotic influence. To overcome this problem, the present study focused on the effect of active constituents isolated from a medicinal plant on $TNF-{\alpha}$-induced apoptosis in human colon adenocarcinoma (HT-29) cells. Nimbolide from Azadirachta indica was evaluated for cytotoxicity by methyl tetrazolium 3-[4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl]-2, 5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay and phase contrast microscopy. Effects on apoptotic signaling proteins were investigated using Western blot analysis. Nimbolide showed cytotoxicity against HT-29 cells that was significantly different from the control group (p<0.01), a concentration of $10{\mu}M$ significantly inducing cell death (p<0.01). In combination with $TNF-{\alpha}$, nimbolide significantly enhanced-induced cell death. In apoptotic pathway, nimbolide activated c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) phosphorylation, BH3 interacting-domain death agonist (Bid) and up-regulated the death receptor 5 (DR5) level. In the combination group, nimbolide markedly sensitized $TNF-{\alpha}$-induced JNK, Bid, caspase-3 activation and the up-regulation of DR5. Our findings overall indicate that nimbolide may enhance $TNF-{\alpha}$-mediated cellular proliferation inhibition through increasing cell apoptosis of HT-29 cells by up-reglation of DR5 expression via the JNK pathway.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.12 no.8
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• pp.1246-1250
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• 1999

Rabbits (48) of Soviet chinchilla (24) and White giant (24) were fed from 6 weeks to 12 weeks of age intensively on either of four isonitrogenous - isocaloric diets containing 0 ($D_1$), 5($D_2$), 10($D_3$) and 20($D_4$) percent raw neem seed kernel cake (NSKC), respectively as per NRC (1977) requirements in a Randomized block design and slaughtered at the end to find out differences in their carcass traits due to NSKC feeding. Dietary treatment had no significant effect on weight of edibles and inedibles and their percentages and dressing percentage in terms of carcass, carcass with pluck and carcass with pluck and head. Similarly, the meat-bone ratio of various primal cuts and overall carcass, yield of edibles per unit of inedibles and eye muscle area were not influenced due to the dietary variations. Chemical composition of fresh meat, and organoleptic evaluation of cooked meat with and without salt did not vary significantly due to incorporation of NSKC in the diets. The rabbits fed 20% NSKC ($D_4$) though consumed more (p<0.05) DM and DE per kg meat production, the intake of crude protein and total digestible nutrients was similar with other dietary treatments. Feed cost per unit meat production was, however, lower on 5 and 10% NSKC containing diets by 7.75 and 12.56%, respectively, as compared to deoiled ground nut cake containing control diet. It appears that NSKC could be used as a wholesome vegetable protein supplement upto 10% in diet of rabbits without any adverse effect on commercial carcass traits.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.13 no.9
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• pp.1272-1277
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• 2000

The present study was conducted to investigate the feasibility of feeding neem kernel meal (NKM) containing diet to growing Japanese quails, which was incorporated into a standard quail diet at 0, 50, 75 or 100 g/kg in place of soyabean meal and deoiled rice bran. Each diet was offered to 30 quail chicks housed in battery cages from day one to five weeks of age. The chicks fed NKM diets gained 123.3, 122.6 and 121.6 g mean body weight, respectively, and which were significantly (p<0.05) lower than that of 129.9 g gained by those of birds fed the control diets. The feed intake and feed conversion ratio of birds in different dietary groups were not significantly altered due to dietary variations. Mean values for retention of dietary energy, N and Ca were found to insignificantly differ (p>0.05) among the treatment groups but P retention was significantly (p<0.01) lower for quails fed 100 g/kg NKM than those in other groups. Blood biochemical constituents, carcass characteristics and organoleptic test for meat also were not found to vary significantly (p>0.05) due to dietary treatments. The histopathology of liver and kidney tissues from NKM fed quails revealed mild degenerative changes. It could be concluded that inclusion of NKM in quail diet reduced the growth besides inducing mild pathological changes in liver and kidney tissues.

• Korean Journal of Plant Resources
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• v.22 no.6
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• pp.528-534
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• 2009

The study of germination and seedling growth characteristics of Neem under different soil and environment conditions was undertaken. The seed germination started 8 days after sowing in commercial bed soil, whereas, delayed germination was observed in sandy-loam (15 days) and sandy (19 days) soil. The highest germination (73.33%) was observed in commercial bed soil in green house, whereas, the lowest germination was observed in sandy soil (16.67%) and sandy-loam soil (8.33%). The seeds in the open field (sandy soil) also showed poor (10%) germination. The mean number of germination seed/day (GD) and seed germination vigor rate (GV) both were highest in the commercial bed soil with 0.733% and 16.67% respectively in the green house, whereas sandy and sandy-loam soil in green house and open field (sandy soil) all showed much lower GD and GV values. The seedling characteristics of nursery revealed that the seedling grown in the growth chamber in commercial bed soil was significantly higher in all the parameters comparing to others grown in green house and open field. The growth was nearly 7 fold in the chamber compared to that of the green house nursery observed in three months old seedlings. Likewise, HPLC analysis revealed that the green house grown seedling contain higher quantity of pigments compare to the chamber grown seedlings. Among the soils used the commercial soil alone or in combination with sandy and sandy-loam soil in the ratio of 2:1:1 respectively with the temperature of $27{\pm}2^{\circ}C$ showed better for Neem nursery preparation.

• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.246-252
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• 2016

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to obtain a natural antibiotic from Phenol-rich compounds; for the dressing and the treatment of chronic wounds. Methods: The Phenol-rich compound sweet gel was prepared by blending four natural herbal extracts, Acacia catechu (L.F.), Momia (Shilajit), Castanea sativa, and Ephedra sinica stapf, with combination of a sweet gel medium, including honey, maple saps, Phoenix dactylifera L. (date), pomegranate extract and Azadirachta indica gum as a stabilizer. The combinations were screened by using a well-diffusion assay with cloxacillin as a control. Pseudomonas spp. was tested with our novel antimicrobial compound. The zones of inhibition in agar culture were measured for each individual component and for the compound, and the results were compared with those of the control group which had been treated with cloxacillin. Data were expressed as means ${\pm}$ standard deviations. Quantitative analyses were performed using the paired t-test. Results: The antibiotic effect of the Phenol-rich compound sweet gel was statistically shown to be more significant than that of cloxacillin against Pseudomonas aeruginosa (P < 0.05). Conclusion: Our novel approach to fighting the antibiotic resistance of Pseudomonas proved to be successful. The Phenol-rich compound sweet gel was found to be suitable for use as an alternative medicine and bioactive dressing material, for the treatment of patients with various types of wounds, including burns, venous leg ulcers, ulcers of various etiologies, leg ulcers on the feet of diabetic, unhealed graft sampling sites, abscesses, boils, surgical wounds, necrotic process, post-operative and neonatal wound infection, and should be considered as an alternative to the usual methods of cure.