Description

Azadirachta indica, the neem tree, is a fast-growing, semi-evergreen tree of the family Meliaceae, native to the Indian subcontinent and Myanmar, now planted extensively across tropical Africa, South and Central America, and the Caribbean as a shade tree and traditional medicine source. The bark — grey-brown, longitudinally fissured, and distinctively bitter — is cited in the Charaka Samhita and Sushruta Samhita under Nimba as a primary anti-inflammatory, anti-pyretic, and blood-purifying botanical. Classical Ayurvedic formulations including Nimbadi Churna utilise the bark in preparations for skin conditions, fever management, and intestinal health. The tree is designated the ‘village pharmacy’ of India, and Mahatma Gandhi is credited with attributing his longevity to neem chewing. Bark is commercially harvested in Maharashtra, Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh, and Rajasthan.