Efficacy of Herbal Medicine Administration using Neem (Azadirchta indica L) Leaves as Case Study

Abstract

Plants used for treatment of diverse ailments primitively are concocted and used indiscriminately. The efficacy of "Herbal medicine" which is an ancient tradition, used in some parts of Nigeria was investigated to establish herbal applications of Neem (Azadirachta indica) leaves.  Neem leaves (Azadirachta indica) was popularly recognised for the treatment of malaria fever. The leaves were plucked at appropriate peak period of the day when oil and moisture contents were recorded maximum. The peak period of contents was found to occurred between 8am-10am on a very sunny days, 10am to 12 on cool days, and 3:00pm to 5:00pm on cloudy days. Aqueous extract from macerated Neem leaves was subjected to qualitative and quantitative analysis. Available phytochemicals evaluated include; saponin (34.89mg/g), tannin (31.715mg/g), flavonoid (31.835mg/g), phenol (43.59mg/g), terpernoid (14.585mg/g), cardiac glycosides (39.335mg/g), steroid (16.185mg/g) and alkaloid (28.76mg/g). These values differ significantly to recommended oral dosage formulation for human consumption: Saponin (1.433ml), Tannin (1.418ml), Flavonoid (13.91ml), Phenol (2.29ml), Terpernoid (8.23ml), Cardiac Glycosides (0.003177ml), Steroid (0.62mg/g). Consequently, local consumption of herbal resources should be regulated to avoid abuse and long or short-term effects of drug contents as proven in the neem leaves as local herbs.