NEEM OIL:
Azadirachta indica
Safety Issues
Based on its extensive traditional use, neem seems to be quite safe. However, formal safety testing has only
involved neem oil, the insecticide product made from the plant. While neem has been found adequately safe
for use as an insecticide, animal studies suggest that long-term oral use of neem oil might produce
toxic effects. 10,11
In addition, other animal studies suggest that whole neem extract (which includes more substances than neem
oil) may damage chromosomes, at least when taken in high doses or for an extended period of time. 3,12
For all these reasons, as well as the lack of comprehensive safety investigation of neem products
other than neem oil, we recommend that young children, pregnant or nursing women, or individuals
with severe liver or kidney disease avoid use of neem.
Halifax Health USA
———————-
3. Awasthy KS, Chaurasia OP, Sinha SP. Prolonged murine genotoxic effects of crude extracted from neem. Phytother Res . 1999;13:81-83.
10. Rahman MF, Siddiqui MK, Jamil K. LDH profiles of male and female rats treated with Vepacide.
Phytother Res. 2002;16:122-126.
11. Rahman MF, Siddiqui MK, Jamil K. Effects of Vepacide ( Azadirachta indica ) on aspartate and alanine aminotransferase profiles in asubchronic study with rats. Hum Exp Toxicol. 2001;20:243-249.
12. Awasthy KS. Genotoxicity of a crude leaf extract of neem in male germ cells of mice.
Cytobios. 2001;106 Suppl 2:151-164.
