Phytochemical, Antimicrobial, Cytotoxic, Analgesic and Anti-Inflammatory Properties of Azadirachta Indica: A Therapeutic Study

Nature has been a source of medicinal agents for thousands of years and an impressive number of modern drugs have been isolated from natural sources, many based on their use in traditional medicine. It has been noted that the original source of many important pharmaceuticals in current use have been plants used by indigenous people [1]. It has been reported that about 64% of the total global population remains dependent on traditional medicine and medicinal plants for provision of their health-care needs [2]. In order to promote the use of medicinal plants as potential sources of antimicrobial compounds, it is pertinent to thoroughly investigate their composition and activity and thus validate their use [3]. Some phytochemicals produced by plants have antimicrobial activity allowing these plants to be studied and used for the development of new antimicrobial drugs [4]. The effectiveness of phytochemicals in the treatment of various diseases may lie in their antioxidant effects [5]. Secondary plant metabolites are largely unexplored in ‘conventional’ animal production systems. In the past, plant metabolites were generally considered as sources of antinutritional factors. Recent bans and restrictions on the use of animal antibiotic growth promoters stimulated interest in bioactive secondary metabolites of plan source as alternative performance enhancers [6].