Neem oil
Common name
Margosa
ID
HD0048
Scientific name of the plant
Azadirachta indica
Anatomical part for use
fruit
Human use
Miscellaneous
Summary
Azadirachta indica, commonly known as neem, nimtree or Indian lilac, is a tree in the mahogany family Meliaceae. It is one of two species in the genus Azadirachta, and is native to the Indian subcontinent and most of the countries in Africa. It is typically grown in tropical and semi-tropical regions. Neem trees also grow on islands in southern Iran. Its fruits and seeds are the source of neem oil. (Source: Wiki)
Evidence Level
Level 4 (Individual reports repeated observed over 5 years among different countries)
Hepatotoxicity reports in literature
Hepatotoxicity Description
Several case reports have suggested that margosa oil can cause severe metabolic acidosis and death, particularly in young children. Symptoms of nausea, vomiting and progressive stupor develop within hours of consumption, followed by severe metabolic acidosis, coma, and progressive hepatic dysfunction, similar to Reye syndrome. Serum aminotransferase levels are generally normal or minimally elevated initially, but then rise to high levels accompanied by increases in LDH and CPK levels. Progressive hepatic encephalopathy and cerebral edema develop within days. Unexplained is why neem oil has been safely used for centuries in traditional Ayurvedic medicine. Outbreaks of this toxic syndrome have been described in India and South East Asia, suggesting that the toxicity may have been due to contamination of the ordinarily tolerated oil by seeds of plants that resemble Azadirachta indica. DNA from Azadirachta indica has been found as a contaminant in commercial herbal supplements in at least one toxicological screening report. (Source: LiverTox)
Traditional medicine
Products made from neem trees have been used in the traditional medicine of India for centuries, but there is insufficient clinical evidence to indicate any benefits of using neem for medicinal purposes. In adults, no specific doses have been established, and short-term use of neem appears to be safe, while long-term use may harm the kidneys or liver; in small children, neem oil is toxic and can lead to death. Neem may also cause miscarriages, infertility, and low blood sugar. (Source: Wiki)
Common name
Margosa
ID
HD0048
Scientific name of the plant
Azadirachta indica
Anatomical part for use
fruit
Human use
Miscellaneous
Summary
Azadirachta indica, commonly known as neem, nimtree or Indian lilac, is a tree in the mahogany family Meliaceae. It is one of two species in the genus Azadirachta, and is native to the Indian subcontinent and most of the countries in Africa. It is typically grown in tropical and semi-tropical regions. Neem trees also grow on islands in southern Iran. Its fruits and seeds are the source of neem oil. (Source: Wiki)
Evidence Level
Level 4 (Individual reports repeated observed over 5 years among different countries)
Hepatotoxicity reports in literature
Hepatotoxicity Description
Several case reports have suggested that margosa oil can cause severe metabolic acidosis and death, particularly in young children. Symptoms of nausea, vomiting and progressive stupor develop within hours of consumption, followed by severe metabolic acidosis, coma, and progressive hepatic dysfunction, similar to Reye syndrome. Serum aminotransferase levels are generally normal or minimally elevated initially, but then rise to high levels accompanied by increases in LDH and CPK levels. Progressive hepatic encephalopathy and cerebral edema develop within days. Unexplained is why neem oil has been safely used for centuries in traditional Ayurvedic medicine. Outbreaks of this toxic syndrome have been described in India and South East Asia, suggesting that the toxicity may have been due to contamination of the ordinarily tolerated oil by seeds of plants that resemble Azadirachta indica. DNA from Azadirachta indica has been found as a contaminant in commercial herbal supplements in at least one toxicological screening report. (Source: LiverTox)
Traditional medicine
Products made from neem trees have been used in the traditional medicine of India for centuries, but there is insufficient clinical evidence to indicate any benefits of using neem for medicinal purposes. In adults, no specific doses have been established, and short-term use of neem appears to be safe, while long-term use may harm the kidneys or liver; in small children, neem oil is toxic and can lead to death. Neem may also cause miscarriages, infertility, and low blood sugar. (Source: Wiki)