'Neem oil is a vegetable oil pressed from the fruits and seeds of the neem (Azadirachta indica), an evergreen tree which is endemic to the Indian subcontinent and has been introduced to many other areas in the tropics. It is the most important of the commercially available products of neem for organic farming and medicines.
Neem oil is generally red as blood, and has a rather strong odor that is said to combine the odours of peanut and garlic. It is composed mainly of triglycerides and contains many triterpenoid compounds, which are responsible for the bitter taste. It is hydrophobic in nature and in order to emulsify it in water for application purposes, it must be formulated with appropriate surfactants.
Azadirachtin is the most well known and studied triterpenoid in neem oil. The azadirachtin content of neem oil varies from 300ppm to over 2500ppm depending on the extraction technology and quality of the neem seeds crushed. Neem oil also contains steroids (campesterol, beta-sitosterol, stigmasterol).
| Average composition of neem oil fatty acids | ||
|---|---|---|
| Common Name | Acid Name | Composition range |
| Omega-6 | Linoleic acid | 6-16% |
| Omega-9 | Oleic acid | 25-54% |
| Palmitic acid | Hexadecanoic acid | 16-33% |
| Stearic acid | Octadecanoic acid | 9-24% |
| Omega-3 | Alpha-linolenic acid | ?% |
| Palmitoleic acid | 9-Hexadecenoic acid | ?% |
Read more about Neem Oil: Neem Oil Method, Uses, Toxicity
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