Neem-based Pesticide Research Articles

Biochemical effects of vepacide (from Azadirachta indica) on Wistar rats during subchronic exposure

We investigated the effect of Vepacide (from Azadirachta indica), a neem-based pesticide, on acid (AcP) and alkaline (AkP) phosphatase in different tissues of male and female albino Wistar rats. Subchronic doses of Vepacide in coconut oil (80, 160, and 320mg/kg; maximum volume of 0.2mL) were administered orally for 45 or 90 days. The administration of Vepacide resulted in a significant increase in AcP and AkP in serum, kidney, lung, and liver tissue (AkP only in liver), whereas a significant decrease of AcP in liver was observed in male and female rats after 45 and 90 days of treatment with moderate and high doses. The alterations in serum, liver, kidney, and lung tissues of both male and female rats caused by this compound were statistically significant, and the changes were also dose and time dependent. The alterations in male rats were not statistically significant when compared with female rats, indicating that there were no sexual differences. The withdrawal study (28 days post-treatment) revealed significant recovery, indicating reversal of the toxic symptoms once the toxicant was removed. There was a high degree of positive correlation between results for serum as compared to those for kidney, lung, and liver (AkP only for liver). However, there was a high negative correlation between AcP results for serum as compared with those for liver. The alterations in these enzymes indicated that lung tissue was the most susceptible, followed by liver and kidney. AcP and AkP are marker enzymes, and their increase in serum, with parallel increases in different tissues, might be due to the increased permeability of plasma membranes. The decrease in liver AcP may be due to the necrosis of cellular tissues. The changes observed in these enzyme activities could be useful as biomarkers of exposure to Vepacide.

Effects of Vepacide (Azadirachta indica) on aspartate and alanine aminotransferase profiles in a subchronic study with rats.

The aim of this study was to ascertain the long-term effects of Vepacide, a neem-based pesticide on biochemical profiles. Albino Wistar rats were treated orally with 80 (low), 160 (medium) and 320 mg/kg (high) doses of Vepacide in coconut oil for 90 days. Control rats received the same volume of the vehicle. Vepacide caused increase of aspartate and alanine aminotransferase in serum, kidney and lung, and these enzymes decreased in liver in both male and female rats when measured after 45 and 90 days of treatment. The two-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) showed that the alterations in these enzymes were dose- and time-dependent. Sexual dimorphism was observed when male rats were compared with female rats (Student t-test at P< 0.05). Positive correlation was observed with regard to these enzymes between serum, kidney and lung, whereas in the case of serum and liver, a negative correlation was recorded. These enzyme profiles elucidate that they increased in serum with simultaneous decrease in liver, indicating necrosis of liver, whereas in other tissues, the level of enzymes increased, showing an adaptive mechanism due to the chemical stress. The affected enzymes were recovered to normal conditions after 28 days of post-treatment (withdrawal study). Due to the Vepacide treatment, lung was more affected followed by liver and kidney. This study has indicated that these enzymes could be useful as biomarkers for the insult of any toxicant. Besides, they can also help in predictive toxicology.

Molluscicidal activity of neem ( Azadirachta indica A.Juss)

Molluscicidal property of Azadirachta indica A. Juss (neem) against the snails Lymnaea acuminata and Indoplanorbis exustus was studied. It was observed that the molluscicidal activity of the leaf, bark, cake, neem oil and the neem-based pesticides, achook and nimbecidine, was both time- and dose-dependent. The toxic effect of pure azadirachtin against both the snails was greater than the synthetic molluscicides.