Azadirachta indica

Azadirachta indica, or neem, is a tropical evergreen tree in the mahogany family, native to the Indian subcontinent. Its seeds, leaves, bark, and oil are widely used in traditional medicine and agriculture.

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Neem oil: A vegetable oil pressed from neem seeds and kernels, containing compounds used in pesticides, soaps, and other products. Seed oil is one of the tree’s most widely used agricultural and household products.
Meliaceae: A family of flowering trees and shrubs that includes mahogany, neem, and chinaberry. Neem belongs to this family of mostly tropical trees.
Indian subcontinent: The large South Asian region comprising India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan, and Sri Lanka. This region is neem’s native home and the center of its long cultivation history.
Botanical pesticide: A pest-control substance derived from plants or their natural products. Neem products are a prominent example of plant-derived pest control.
Melia azedarach: A deciduous Asian tree in the mahogany family, commonly known as chinaberry or Persian lilac. This close relative is often mistaken for neem but differs in species and properties.
Azadirachtin: A limonoid compound found in neem seeds that disrupts insect feeding, growth, and reproduction. This seed compound underlies many neem-based botanical insecticides.
Limonoid: A class of highly oxygenated triterpenoid compounds found chiefly in plants of the citrus and mahogany families. Neem’s best-known bioactive compounds belong to this chemical family.
Neem in Ayurveda: The use of neem in Ayurveda, the South Asian medical tradition, for preparations made from leaves, bark, seeds, and oil. Ayurvedic practice is one historical context for neem’s medicinal reputation.
Integrated pest management: A strategy that combines biological, cultural, physical, and chemical controls to limit pest damage. Neem products can serve as one tool within broader pest-management programs.
Mahogany: A group of tropical hardwood trees in the mahogany family, especially species of the genus Swietenia. Mahogany shares neem’s plant family but is cultivated chiefly for timber.