THE NEEM TREE: A MODERN DAY MEDICAL MIRACLE?
By Suresh Nair, PhD
ARTICLE SUMMARY
- Most North Americans have never heard of its healing
abilities, but researchers are discovering that an evergreen tree often
used to make furniture offers some powerful anti-cancer benefits.
- The neem tree is referred to as the “Miracle Tree” because of its
tremendous medical properties. It is also considered to be a “village
pharmacy” in India, where it grows. Extracts of neem leaves, twigs,
bark, seeds, and flowers are integral components of many traditional
remedies in the ancient Indian medical system of Ayurveda.
- More than 60 different biologically active neem compounds have
been identified and used for a wide variety of health and medical
applications.
- Overall, neem compounds show impressive anti-cancer potential
against many human cancer cell lines and animal models for human
cancers. Among these are colon, stomach, pancreas, lung, liver, skin,
oral, prostate, and breast cancers.
- A recently published study showed that nimbolide – a bioactive
neem compound – was able to induce apoptosis in pancreatic cancer cells,
to the extent that the size and number of cancer cell colonies was
reduced by 80%. Nimbolide also reduced the ability of pancreatic cancer
cells to migrate and invade other areas of the body by an astonishing
70%.
- Neem preparations have been shown to potentiate (enhance the
effect of) the actions of anti-cancer agents. They also provide
protection against the life-threatening side effects of some of these
very toxic drugs.
- Various parts of the neem tree and its extracts have been used by
humans for medicinal purposes for hundreds of years.While the uses of
neem seem limitless, precautions need to be taken and neem products
should be used with care. Indiscriminate consumption of higher than
necessary doses may sometimes cause unpleasant side effects.
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