The post Neem Compound Profile: Quercetin appeared first on Neem.World.
]]>However, one compound that has been researched and proved to be extremely beneficial in beauty products and for medicinal uses is quercetin.
Quercetin is a flavonoid, or plant pigment, and contains anti-fungal, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, and antioxidant properties that eliminate bacteria, leaving clean, smooth and refreshed skin!
Found in neem oil, quercetin is the key to neem’s beauty product potential. When used on the face, quercetin clears all acne-causing bacteria, and because of its antioxidant properties, fights free-radical damage. This means that quercetin slows the aging process by lessening the effects of oxidative stress, managing wrinkles, rejuvenating your skin and at the same time protecting you from cancer! This oxidative stress can come from a variety of things, like age, high stress levels, poor diet, lack of sleep and exposure to chemical toxins. The free radicals that quercetin fights negatively impact cell function and can damage membranes, promote mutations and kill healthy cells.
One of quercetin’s most significant properties is its effectiveness as an anti-inflammatory property. Many researchers are now pointing to inflammation as the cause of many diseases. Arthritis, heart disease, and high blood pressure are all due to inflammation of particular parts of the body, and quercetin can reduce that inflammation, lowering our overall risk!
According to research done at the University of Verona in Italy, quercetin is an anti-viral, anti-microbial, anti-inflammatory and anti-allergic. This means that neem oil can eliminate acne, reduce inflammation, and be used as an antihistamine to reduce allergic reactions to name a few applications.
Quercetin can be used to treat:
- Acne
- Cardiovascular diseases
- Blood vessels
- Atherosclerosis
- High cholesterol
- Circulation
- Diabetes
- Cataracts
- Hay Fever
- Peptic ulcer
- Schizophrenia
- Inflammation
- Asthma
- Gout
- Viral infections
- Chronic Fatigue syndrome
- Cancer
- Arthritis
- Prostate Cancer
- Increase Endurance
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]]>The post What is Neem? appeared first on Neem.World.
]]>Neem is a tree, native to India, that is used as a natural pesticide and fertilizer, as a natural ingredient in cosmetics, as an additive to livestock feed and in pet care products, and even in healthcare treatments!
Every part of the tree can be used – the bark, the leaves, the flowers, the gum, the fruit, and the seeds.
The seeds are pressed to make neem oil
The flowers are used for aromatherapy and in food
The bark can be used as a toothbrush.
The leaves have many uses.
Why is neem important?
Our planet is coming to a pivotal turning point. In the past 250 years, the global population has increased 10-fold. By 2050, we will have reached 10 billion people. Why should we be concerned?
In the early 1800s, we hit the 1 billion mark. The first Industrial Revolution gave us the opportunity to grow, and the Green Revolution of the 1960s allowed the exponential growth of the population to continue unhindered, With the creation of synthetic pesticides and synthetic fertilizers, we survived and thrived, but without realizing the profound impact these chemical inputs had on the planet we depend on to live. Many of these consequences have been ignored, but with the research and obvious impacts of climate change, we must now pay attention before it is too late to save our planet for future generations to enjoy.
In order to accomplish this, we must change, and fast. We must implement new agricultural strategies and techniques. They must be sustainable, viable, and thus, natural. Neem is the perfect opportunity to alter and reverse the damage we, as humans, have caused on our planet in every sector while catalyzing a New Green Revolution that focuses on sustainable growth.
In the agricultural sector, neem oil is an excellent and effective biopesticide and fertilizer, due to azadirachtin, a chemical compound found only in neem.
As a biopesticide, neem acts as an herbicide, eliminating the risks that many synthetic pesticides pose to animals, pollinators, our health, and the environment. Many of these synthetic pesticides are carcinogenic, seep into our water, and kill vital pollinators, like bees.
In India, neem-coated urea, a nitrogen-based fertilizer, is revolutionizing farming methods by providing a safe, cheaper, and more efficient way to introduce nitrogen to plants.
In the cosmetics sector, neem is a natural, organic ingredient. One amazing compound it contains is quercetin, which is an anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, anti-fungal, and antioxidant. When used on the face, it can reduce red spots and acne. Neem even acts as a natural moisturizer.
In the animal sector, neem cake is given to livestock as a dietary supplement. However, it doesn’t just provide many of the nutrients that livestock need, but it also acts as an antibacterial. Therefore, it eradicates many of the pests that are currently eliminated with antibiotics, which leads to antibiotic resistance.
Neem is also used to protect animals from ticks, mites, mosquitos, lice, and other pests. It is also safe to use on domesticated animals, like dogs.
In the healthcare sector, neem is only just starting to be researched. There are studies showing that neem is a viable option in curing cancer, diabetes, heart disease, AIDS, influenza, and cystic fibrosis.
Additionally, neem can help treat ulcers, quickly heal wounds, treat digestive issues, eczema, psoriasis, help prevent malaria, and many others.
Environmentally, the neem tree is a safe, non-toxic tool. Instead of polluting our waters, soils, and air, it has amazing carbon sequestration capabilities, effectively helping to reduce the impact our technology has imposed on the environment while combatting deforestation.
Neem has many secrets left to be discovered, but by realizing the benefits and opportunities that this miracle of nature has given us, we can change the world.
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]]>The post Neem’s Strength as an Organic Fertilizer appeared first on Neem.World.
]]>Neem helps soil retain moisture and increases workability. Organic fertilizers such as neem increase airflow through the soil, which allow the plants’ roots to breathe.
Environmentally Friendly
Organic fertilizers such as neem are healthier for the ecosystem because they must first break down before releasing their nutrients, ensuring that no runoff or soil contamination occurs.
Strengthens hydraulic conductivity
Organic matter supplied by organic fertilizers such as neem improves water flow in soils and provides a food source for soil micro-organisms which contribute to macro-pores formation.
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]]>The post Neem’s Chemical Constituents appeared first on Neem.World.
]]>There are more than 150 identified biochemichals in neem including:
- nimbin
- nimbanene
- 6-desacetylnimbinene
- nimbandiol
- nimbolide
- ascorbic acid,
- n-hexacosanol
- amino acids
- 7-desacetyl-7-benzoylazadiradione
- 7-desacetyl-7-benzoylgedunin
- 17-hydroxyazadiradione
- nimbiol
- gedunin
- azadirachtin
These compounds are greatly expanding the possibilities for medical and cosmetic applications, though much research is left to be done.
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]]>The post Neem Cake – An Organic Byproduct that Nourishes the Soil appeared first on Neem.World.
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Neem cake is a product of the left over neem seed kernels that remain after extracting neem oil from the seeds. It is mainly used as a fertilizer, but has properties of a pesticide, as well, because of its azadirachtin content. It can help to control nematodes and other pests found in the soil, in addition to nourishing the plants and soil.
Neem cake contains the essential nutrients that plants need for successful development and growth, like nitrogen, phosphorous, and potassium. Additionally, the application of neem cake increases water retention in the surrounding soil, which means that the plants grow in more ideal conditions.
When used as a fertilizer, neem cake has many benefits for both mankind and the environment. It is non-toxic, with no risk to human health or environmental contamination. The cake nourishes the soil without reducing biodiversity, ensuring a positive environmental and societal impact.
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]]>The post Azadirachtin – The Organic Alternative for Crop Protection appeared first on Neem.World.
]]>Azadirachtin has been endorsed by the EPA, the USDA, and the EU because of its amazing pesticidal properties effective against 500 different types of insects, nematodes, and fungi. Even though it is effective on so many types of pests, it is biodegradable and non-toxic to mammals, pollinators, and humans.
A major active ingredient in neem oil, azadirachtin acts on the hormonal systems of pests and therefore does not lead to resistance in future generations. More specifically, it disrupts the growth cycle of leaf and produce eating insects, deters them from feeding on plants by interacting with their hormones, deters their feeding habits, and reduces the rate of reproduction. There is no risk to pollinators as only those that feed on the plant tissues are exposed.
Azadirachtin is found exclusively in the neem tree and holds the secret to sustainable crop protection in the 21st Century.
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