Neem was considered to be an indispensable medicinal plant for Indians from time
immemorial. The earliest recorded evidence on the use of Neem is from the archaeological
remains of Mohan Jo Daro and Harappa i.e. 3500 BC. However, it is not clear of the extent of
use of Neem by the people  of this ancient city civilization. Charak Samhita (between 1660
BC to 1000 BC) and Sushruta Samhita (500 BC), the two authoritative ancient text of
Ayurvedic medicine mentioned about 100 entries of Neem in treating a wide range of
diseases and symptoms, most of which are continued to be used even today. Thus highly
revered for its multifarious use it provide almost a cradle to grave health care programme to
humankind and thus considered as an integral part of the life of the people of Indian
Subcontinent. The ‘Sarira Sthanam’ in Charak Samhita recommend that the new born is
anointed with herbs and oil, laid on a silken cloth and fanned with a branch of Neem with full
leaves. From Childcare to the health care of adults and old, Neem and Neem based
products are used by the people of the subcontinent from time immemorial. There is a well –
established tradition among the South Indian Brahmins to eat Neem  leaves (in the form of a
‘chatni’) as a part of their food particularly on auspicious days such as on ‘Shardha days’.
The ancient Indians thus believed that Neem is destroyer of all diseases and provide them
with excellent health and prosperity. Perhaps  of this strong faith in Neem promoted them to
plant Neem in the courtyard of houses, in public places and on road sides. It is also custom
in India to spread Neem leaves on around the bed of the small pox patients and after
recovery of them small pox patients are given their first bath in a water which is preboiled
with neem leaves. It is believed that this will prevent from spreading the small pox and also
hasten the healing of the pox marks and also protect the skin.
It is also a custom among elder people to eat tender Neem leaves with the belief that it will
protect them from falling sick. Neem twing is used for brushing teeth all over the country from
time immemorial. It is now scientifically proven that brushing with Neem twig offers the best
oral hygiene by hygiene by protecting the tooth fro decay and removing the foul smell and
refresh the mouth.
Neem has been mentioned as one of the most important drug in almost all systems of
Indian systems of medicine for treating a variety of diseases as well as a preventive and
health promotive agent. There are over 700 herbal preparations based on Neem in
Ayurveda, Siddha, Unani, Amchi and the other health traditions.
All parts of Neem tree, root, stem, branches, twig, leaf, flowers, fruits, neem cake, seeds, oil,
gum, etc. have medicines of India such as Ayurveda, Siddha Unani, Amchi and the other
health traditions.
All parts of Neem tree, root, stem, branches, twig, leaf, flowers, fruits, seeds, oil, gum, etc.
have medicinal properties. Medicinal activity of Neem is so diverse and it is used extensively
in the traditional system of medicines of India such as Ayurveda, Siddha, Unani and the
local health traditions. Therapeutic activities of Neem claimed in Ayurveda, Siddha and
Unani include anti-inflammatory, concoctive, blood purifier, anti-leprosy and anti-vitligo,
anti-flatulent, wound healing, antiseptic, anti-arthritic, anti-malarial, anti-diabetic, anti-pyretic,
anti-helmintic, anti-fertility, anti-viral, anti-ulcerogenic, anti-histamine, immunostimulant and
adoptogenic etc Many of these claims have been pharmacologically investigated and found
to be valid in Ayurveda and Unani systems. Neem is used exclusively  (seed or seed oil or
other parts of the Neem tree) or in combination with other medicinal plants in preparing a
wide range of herbal drugs. During the ethanobotanical investigations carried out earlier, we
have collected information on over 160 applications of Neem singly or in combination with
other medicinal plants in treating a variety of human aliments. The classified Materia medica
of Ayurveda, Siddha and Unani together record over 475 medicinal applications mostly in
poly-herbal formulations and also as single plant remedies. It is important to subject these
ethnomedicinal information to scientific scrutiny and develop standard products based on
promising leads from the above said traditional medicines.
A detailed Phytochemical and pharmacological screening of Neem may need isolation and
identification of potential pharmacological dynamic compounds useful in treating a variety of
human ailments, particularly in cancer, AIDS and other diseases that threaten the
humankind today.