The use of neem for controlling gastric hyperacidity and ulcer

Abstract

H(2)-receptor blockers and proton pump inhibitors are now used extensively to control gastric and duodenal ulcer, inflammation and pain, but these drugs have limitations and are not always affordable. The development of novel nontoxic antiulcer drugs, including from medicinal plants, is therefore desirable, and Azadirachta indica A. Juss, commonly known as Neem, is known to have potent gastroprotective and antiulcer effects. This review deals with the pharmacological and biochemical studies carried out regarding the antiulcer activities of Neem extracts and their mechanism of action, including the inhibition of acid secretion. A comparison with ranitidine and omeprazole in some animal models has been included and clinical studies, where available, have also been incorporated, along with a safety evaluation. Neem bark extract has the potential for the development of novel medicines for the therapeutic control of gastric hyperacidity and ulcer.

Novel Anti-inflammatory Activity of Epoxyazadiradione against Macrophage Migration Inhibitory Factor

“…MIF, a pleiotropic proinflammatory cytokine, has been implicated to play a causative role in many disease states, and the inhibition of MIF activity by either a small molecule inhibitor or neutralization with anti-MIF antibody significantly improves survival and reduces disease progression and/or severity. To search for a novel anti-inflammatory molecule against proinflammatory MIF, six limonoids were extracted and purified from neem because neem extract is known to possess an anti-inflammatory property (33)(34)(35)(36)(37)). These compounds were tested first for their ability to inhibit the tautomerase activity of MIFs and finally evaluated for their effect on MIFinduced inflammation and cytokine production.…”

“…Traditional herbal remedies have been used for centuries to alleviate inflammatory ailments of many kinds of diseases (32). Neem (Azadirachta indica A. Juss) is a well known versatile medicinal plant that has a wide spectrum of biological activities including anti-inflammatory activity (33)(34)(35)(36)(37). The ethnopharmacological exploration and bioactivity testing of various neem compounds and extracts revealed its efficacy to prevent a wide variety of inflammatory disorders in infectious and non-infectious diseases (34, [37][38][39][40][41][42][43][44][45].…”

Gastroprotective activities of Turnera diffusa Willd. ex Schult. revisited: Role of arbutin

“…By increasing mucosal permeability and release of vasoactive products, ethanol causes vascular damage, and gastric cell necrosis which, in turn, leads to ulcer formation. It is claimed that oxygen free radicals play a role in the pathogenesis of gastric damage caused by ethanol (Maity et al, 2009;Goswami et al, 2011;Salga et al, 2011). Oral administration of aspirin to rats is known to produce characteristic mucosal lesions due to the direct effect of the stomach epithelium.…”

Azadirachta indica

“…Neem had been reported to have potent gastroprotective and antiulcer effects and to have the potential for the development of novel medicines for the therapeutic control of gastric hyperacidity and ulcer (Maity et al 2009 ). Nimbidin, isolated from neem seed oil, in doses of 20-40 mg/kg (p.o.)…”