Unveiling the therapeutic potential of neem flower: a phytochemical study for antidiabetic and anticancer properties

Nat Prod Res. 2024 Dec 1:1-17. doi: 10.1080/14786419.2024.2433194. Online ahead of print.

Abstract

The study explores the medicinal properties of neem blossoms, highlighting their potential as less harmful and more beneficial than other plant parts, while also analysing extraction solvent effects. The Soxhlet extraction method was employed to extract phytochemicals using solvents based on their polarity, including chloroform, ethyl acetate, ethanol, and methanol. The study analysed four extracts for antidiabetic and anticancer properties. The ethanolic extract was found to be most effective against diabetes and cancer cells. It can actively inhibit the activity of (dipeptidyl peptidase 4) DPP-IV which leads to the decrease in sugar levels by increased activity of incretins. Similarly, extracts have shown good anticancer activity in [3-(4, 5-dimethylthiazolyl-2)-2, 5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide)] MTT assay. Among all extract studied ethanolic extract proved as the most active extract and was further qualitatively studied by using High-resolution mass spectra to analyse the chemical composition of the neem flower. 33 different compounds were identified from the most active extract of Azadirachta Indica.

Keywords: Azadirachta indica; DPP-4 assay HRMS analysis; MTT assay; apoptosis.