Description

Neem Magaj — the neem seed kernel — is the oil-rich inner cotyledon of the neem fruit, extracted after removal of the hard seed coat. The kernel yields 30–50% fixed oil rich in the tetranortriterpenoid azadirachtin — the most studied biopesticide compound from plant sources — along with nimbin, nimbidin, and other limonoids. In classical Ayurveda, Nimba Beeja (neem seed) is documented in the Charaka Samhita and Sushruta Samhita in preparations for skin diseases, scalp conditions, hair care, and anti-parasitic formulations. Neem seed oil is listed in the Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India for external use. The tree, native to the Indian subcontinent and Myanmar, is cultivated across 30 countries in the tropics, with India leading commercial production. The kernel is commercially processed in Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, and Andhra Pradesh.