Nimba
Azadirachta indica A. Juss
| Section/Chapter | Herb database/Nimba |
|---|---|
| Botanical name(s) | Azadirachta indica A. Juss |
| Family | Meliaceae |
| Availability | Available |
| Contributors | Team Dravyaguna |
| Year of publication | 2026 |
| Publisher | Charak Samhita Research, Training and Skill Development Centre |
| DOI | Awaited |
Nimba (Azadirachta indica) is a plant species widely recognized in Ayurveda and modern pharmacology for its broad spectrum of therapeutic applications.
General Overview
- Taxonomic Name: Azadirachta indica A. Juss.
- Ayurvedic Designation: Nimba / Arishtha ("Reliever of Sickness")
- Primary Phytochemicals: Azadirachtin, Nimbolide, Nimbidin, Gedunin, Quercetin, Salannin
English name
Margosa tree
Therapeutic uses
Daha(burning), jwara (fever) , Krumi roga(worms), Kandu(itching), Kushtha(skin disease), Prameha(diabetes), Rakta pitta(bleeding disorder), Vrana(wound)[1]
Synonyms in Charak Samhita
Nimba, Pichumarda (Nimba is very efficacious drug when it comes to skin disease ), Arishta(it cures many disease, does good always if use.), Tiktaka(best drug having tikta rasa), Paribhadra(does good always if use), Hinguniryasa(the exudate from nimba resemble hingu niryasa.)
Synonyms in Bhavprakasa Nighantu
Pichumanda[2]
Varieties
- Nimba
- Mahanimba
- Parvata nimba
- Akasa nimba
Ayurvedic pharmacological properties
| Sr.no. | Pharmacological criteria | Properties |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Taste (rasa) | Bitter (tikta), Astringent (kashaya) |
| 2 | Potency (veerya) | Cold (sheeta) |
| 3 | Post digestion effect (vipaka) | Pungent (katu) |
| 4 | Qualities (guna) | Light (laghu) |
| 5 | Actions (karma) | Pacify kapha and pitta |
Reference in Charak Samhita and its actions
| Sr.no. | Reference in Charak Samhita | Activity |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cha.Sa.Sutra Sthana 2/7 | Vamana (Therapeutic emesis) |
| 2 | Cha.Sa.Sutra Sthana 3/3 | Siddhatama churna pradeha(Local application) |
| 3 | Cha.Sa.Sutra Sthana 4/9(14) | Kandughna mahakashaya(anti-pruritic/itching) |
| 4 | Cha.Sa.Sutra Sthana 4/9(48) | Sandnyasthapana mahakashaya(restoring consciousness) |
| 5 | Cha.Sa.Sutra Sthana 4/9(48) | Sandnyasthapana mahakashaya(restoring consciousness) |
| 6 | Cha.Sa.Sutra Sthana 23/10 | Santarpanajanya vikara chikitsa(Over-nutrition disorders) |
| 7 | Cha.Sa.Sutra Sthana 23/12 | Santarpanajanya vikaar chikitsa(Over-nutrition disorders) |
| 8 | Cha.Sa.Sutra Sthana 27/97 | Shaka Varga (Class of vegetables) |
| 9 | Cha.Sa.Vimana Sthana 6/17 | Abhyantar Krimi Chikitsa |
| 10 | Cha.Sa.Vimana Sthana 8/135 | Vaman dravyani List of medicines used in therapeutic emesis
) |
| 11 | Cha.Sa.Vimana Sthana 8/143 | Tikta skandha(group of bitter drugs) |
| 12 | Ch.Sa.Sharira Sthana 8/32 | Garbha shalya chikitsa |
| 13 | Cha.Sa.Kalpa Sthana 1/22 | Vamanartha |
| 14 | Cha.Sa.Chikitsa Sthana 3/201 | Used as kwatha in Anydyushka jwara |
| 15 | Cha.Sa.Chikitsa Sthana 3/204 | As an ingredient of Vatsakadi kashaya |
| 16 | Cha.Sa.Chikitsa Sthana 3/224 | Used in formulation of Baladi Ghrita |
| 17 | Cha.Sa.Chikitsa Sthana 3/241 | Used in niruha basti |
| 18 | Cha.Sa.Chikitsa Sthana 3/252 | As an ingredient of Patoladi anuvasana basti |
| 19 | Cha.Sa.Chikitsa Sthana 3/258 | As an ingredient of Chandanadya taila |
| 20 | Cha.Sa.Chikitsa Sthana 3/307 | Used as Dhoopana dravya for Vishama jwara |
| 21 | Cha.Sa.Chikitsa Sthana 4/38 | As pathya ahara in Rakta Pitta |
| 22 | Cha.Sa.Chikitsa Sthana 5/115 | Ingredient of Rohinyadya Ghrita for Pittaja Gulma |
| 23 | Cha.Sa.Chikitsa Sthana 6/30 | Used for making decoction in Pittaja Prameha |
| 24 | Cha.Sa.Chikitsa Sthana 6/31 | Used for making decoction in Pittaja Prameha |
| 25 | Cha.Sa.Chikitsa Sthana 6/38 | Trikantakadhya Taila/Ghrita in Vata-kaphaja prameha |
| 26 | Cha.Sa.Chikitsa Sthana 7/43 | As Vamana dravya |
| 27 | Cha.Sa.Chikitsa Sthana 7/46 | As Asthapan Basti dravya |
| 28 | Cha.Sa.Chikitsa Sthana 7/47 | As Anuvasana Basti dravya |
| 29 | Cha.Sa.Chikitsa Sthana 7/57 | For Scrapping |
| 30 | Cha.Sa.Chikitsa Sthana 7/65 | Ingredient in Mustadi Churna |
| 31 | Cha.Sa.Chikitsa Sthana 7/68 | Ingredient in Triphaladi Churna |
| 32 | Cha.Sa.Chikitsa Sthana 7/82 | Pathya diet in Kushtha |
| 33 | Cha.Sa.Chikitsa Sthana 7/97 | Ingredient in Kushthaghna Yoga |
| 34 | Cha.Sa.Chikitsa Sthana 7/100 | Kwath prayog in Kapha-Pittaja Kushtha |
| 35 | Cha.Sa.Chikitsa Sthana 7/101 | Kwath prayog in Kapha-Pittaja Kushtha |
| 36 | Cha.Sa.Chikitsa Sthana 7/103 | Bahyaprayogartha taila in Kushtha |
| 37 | Cha.Sa.Chikitsa Sthana 7/112 | Ingredient in Kanakakshiri Taila |
| 38 | Cha.Sa.Chikitsa Sthana 7/129 | Abhyantar and Bahyaprayogartha, Pana, Snana |
| 39 | Cha.Sa.Chikitsa Sthana 7/131 | Abhyantar and Bahyaprayogarth in Pittaja Kushtha |
| 40 | Cha.Sa.Chikitsa Sthana 7/135 | For Rakta and Pitta Shamana |
| 41 | Cha.Sa.Chikitsa Sthana 7/136 | Ingredient in Vata-Pitta nashak Ghrita |
| 42 | Cha.Sa.Chikitsa Sthana 7/140 | Ingredient in Tiktashatpala Ghrita |
| 43 | Cha.Sa.Chikitsa Sthana 7/144 | Ingredient in Mahatikta Ghrita |
| 44 | Cha.Sa.Chikitsa Sthana 7/152 | Ingredient in Mahakhadira Ghrita |
| 45 | Cha.Sa.Chikitsa Sthana 7/157 | Snana, Pana and Pradeh in Galit-Kushth |
| 46 | Cha.Sa.Chikitsa Sthana 7/158 | Abhyantar and Bahyaprayogarth, Pana, Snana, Lepa |
| 47 | Cha.Sa.Chikitsa Sthana 10/33 | Ingredient in oil preparation for Bahyaprayogartha |
| 48 | Cha.Sa.Chikitsa Sthana 12/63 | As a Pathya Diet in treatment of Shvayathu |
| 49 | Cha.Sa.Chikitsa Sthana 12/72 | As an Unmardan dravya in Kaphaja Shvayathu |
| 50 | Cha.Sa.Chikitsa Sthana 14/186 | Used for rakta stambhana |
| 51 | Cha.Sa.Chikitsa Sthana 14/214 | Used for parishechana in rakta arsha |
| 52 | Cha.Sa.Chikitsa Sthana 14/220 | Used for pratisarana in rakta arsha |
| 53 | Cha.Sa.Chikitsa Sthana 15/126 | As an ingredient of Chandanadya ghrita |
| 54 | Cha.Sa.Chikitsa Sthana 15/138 | As an ingredient of Kiratadhya churna (Pittaja Grahani chiktsa) |
| 55 | Cha.Sa.Chikitsa Sthana 15/181 | As an ingredient of Bhunimbadhya Kshara |
| 56 | Cha.Sa.Chikitsa Sthana 15/189 | Used in preparation of Pancham Kshara |
| 57 | Cha.Sa.Chikitsa Sthana 16/46 | As an ingredient of Katukadi Ghrita |
| 58 | Cha.Sa.Chikitsa Sthana 16/53 | Used in Haridradi Ghrita |
| 59 | Cha.Sa.Chikitsa Sthana 16/63 | Formulation which use in treatment of pandu |
| 60 | Cha.Sa.Chikitsa Sthana 16/87 | As an ingredient of Shilajatu vataka |
| 61 | Cha.Sa.Chikitsa Sthana 17/97 | Used in yusha preparation for hikka shvasa |
| 62 | Cha.Sa.Chikitsa Sthana 20/34 | For vamana(emesis) in Kaphaja chhardi |
| 63 | Cha.Sa.Chikitsa Sthana 20/35 | As a pathya ahara(wholesome diet) in kaphaja chhardi |
| 64 | Cha.Sa.Chikitsa Sthana 21/51 | For Vamana karma |
| 65 | Cha.Sa.Chikitsa Sthana 21/54 | For Kashaya (decoction) pana |
| 66 | Cha.Sa.Chikitsa Sthana 21/52 | For Vamana (emesis) karma |
| 67 | Cha.Sa.Chikitsa Sthana 21/59 | For Kashaya (decoction)pana |
| 68 | Cha.Sa.Chikitsa Sthana 21/97 | As a prakshalana prayoga for vrana – ropana |
| 69 | Cha.Sa.Chikitsa Sthana 23/51 | For Agada pana in 8th vega of visha |
| 70 | Cha.Sa.Chikitsa Sthana 23/69 | For Anjana prayoga, obstruction in eye |
| 71 | Cha.Sa.Chikitsa Sthana 23/79 | As an ingredient of Maha-Gandha hasti agada |
| 72 | Cha.Sa.Chikitsa Sthana 23/202 | As an ingredient of Madhukadi yoga |
| 73 | Cha.Sa.Chikitsa Sthana 23/243 | As an ingredient of Amruta ghrita |
| 74 | Cha.Sa.Chikitsa Sthana 24/160 | Used as lepa in Madyajanita daha |
| 75 | Cha.Sa.Chikitsa Sthana 25/84 | Used as vranashodhaka kashaya |
| 76 | Cha.Sa.Chikitsa Sthana 25/85 | Used as vranashodhaka lepa |
| 77 | Cha.Sa.Chikitsa Sthana 25/90 | As an ingredient of Kampillakadi taila |
| 78 | Cha.Sa.Chikitsa Sthana 26/239 | Used for aaschotana in Kaphaja netraroga |
| 79 | Cha.Sa.Chikitsa Sthana 27/27 | As Pathya in Urustambha(Diseases of thigh and hip) |
| 80 | Cha.Sa.Chikitsa Sthana 27/52 | As an ingredient of Tarkaryadi Parishechana |
| 81 | Cha.Sa.Chikitsa Sthana 27/50 | As an ingredient of Utsadana Yoga |
| 82 | Cha.Sa.Chikitsa Sthana 29/148 | Apply lepa for Kaphaja Vatarakta |
| 83 | Cha.Sa.Chikitsa Sthana 30/74 | As an ingredient of Udumbaradi taila |
| 84 | Cha.Sa.Chikitsa Sthana 30/82 | For yoni prakshalana |
| 85 | Cha.Sa.Chikitsa Sthana 30/99 | Used in the treatment of Kaphaja pradara |
| 86 | Cha.Sa.Chikitsa Sthana 30/253 | Used in the treatment of Stanya dosha( vitiated breast milk), for vamana |
| 87 | Cha.Sa.Chikitsa Sthana 30/279 | Used in the treatment of Gaurava stanya dosha( vitiated breast milk) |
Dose
- 2-4 g. of the drug in powder form.
- Decoction should be used externally.[3]
Useful part
- Stem bark[4]
Important formulations
As per A.P.I.[5]
- Sudarsana churna
- Nimbadi kwatha
- Nimbadi churna
- Panchanimba churna
- Panchatikta ghruta guggulu
- Pathyadi kwatha churna
Current availability
Available
Current researches
Pharmacological Profile & Mechanisms
Azadirachta indica exerts multi-targeted therapeutic action through phytocompounds that modulate cellular signaling pathways including p53, NF-κB, PI3K/Akt, and Nrf2.[6]
| Therapeutic Category | Primary Active Compounds | Key Molecular Targets & Bioactivities |
|---|---|---|
| Antimicrobial & Dental | Azadirachtin, Mahmoodin | Biofilm disruption; growth inhibition of S. mutans, E. faecalis, and C. albicans |
| Anticancer & Antiproliferative | Nimbolide, Azadiradione | Apoptosis induction via p53/pTEN upregulation and downregulation of Bcl-2 and PI3K/Akt |
| Anti-inflammatory & Analgesic | Nimbidin, Sodium Nimbidate | Suppression of macrophage/neutrophil activity and inhibition of prostaglandin synthesis |
| Reproductive & Contraceptive | Neem seed oil extracts | Spermicidal action and anti-ovulatory efficacy without reducing libido |
Key Clinical & Preclinical Evidence
Antimicrobial & Dental Health
Aqueous and ethanolic leaf extracts exhibit potent broad-spectrum activity against oral pathogens. In endodontic and periodontal models, A. indica preparations suppress polymicrobial biofilms with efficacy comparable to chlorhexidine rinses.[7]
Oncological Management
Active limonoids—primarily nimbolide—suppress cellular proliferation and induce apoptosis in androgen-receptor (AR)-positive and AR-negative prostate cancer lines. Preclinical xenograft models demonstrate significant tumor weight reduction via combined inhibition of AR signaling and the PI3K/Akt pathway.[8]
Anti-inflammatory Activity
Crude bitter constituents, notably nimbidin, demonstrate dose-dependent anti-inflammatory action in acute paw edema and arthritis assays, suppressing cellular exudation and systemic inflammatory cascades.[6]
Fertility Control
Concentrated seed extracts act as localized spermicides and systemic contraceptives by interrupting sperm membrane integrity and blocking folliculogenesis without disrupting secondary sex hormones.[9]
References
- ↑ Anonymous. The Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India. Department of Ayush, Ministry of Health and Family welfare, Govt. of India, New Delhi, Part I. 1986; Volume 5:55
- ↑ Shri Bhavamishra, Bhavaprakash Nighantu, Haritakyadi Varga, Verse no. 53, Edited by Padmashree Pro. Krushnachandra Chunekar, Reprint Edition, Chaukhambha Bharati Academy, 2020;
- ↑ Anonymous. The Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India. Department of Ayush, Ministry of Health and Family welfare, Govt. of India, New Delhi, Part I. 1986; Volume 5:55
- ↑ Anonymous. The Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India. Department of Ayush, Ministry of Health and Family welfare, Govt. of India, New Delhi, Part I. 1986; Volume 5:55
- ↑ Anonymous. The Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India. Department of Ayush, Ministry of Health and Family welfare, Govt. of India, New Delhi, Part I. 1986; Volume 5:55
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 Alzohairy, M. A. (2016). "Therapeutics Role of Azadirachta indica (Neem) and Their Active Constituents in Diseases Prevention and Treatment". Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine. 2016: 7382506. PMC 4791507
. PMID 27034694. doi:10.1155/2016/7382506.
- ↑ Wylie, M. R.; Merrell, D. S. (2022). "The Antimicrobial Potential of the Neem Tree Azadirachta indica". Frontiers in Pharmacology. 13: 891535. PMC 9198380 Check
|pmc=value (help). PMID 35711603 Check|pmid=value (help). doi:10.3389/fphar.2022.891535. - ↑ Batra, N.; Kumar, V. E.; Nambiar, R. (2022). "Exploring the therapeutic potential of Neem (Azadirachta Indica) for the treatment of prostate cancer: a literature review". Annals of Translational Medicine. 10 (13): 754. PMC 9358521 Check
|pmc=value (help). PMID 35928741 Check|pmid=value (help). doi:10.21037/atm-22-94. - ↑ Patil, S. M.; Shirahatti, P. S.; V B, C. K.; Ramu, R.; M N, N. P. (2021). "Azadirachta indica A. Juss (neem) as a contraceptive: An evidence-based review on its pharmacological efficiency". Phytomedicine. 88: 153596. PMID 34116323 Check
|pmid=value (help). doi:10.1016/j.phymed.2021.153596.