The most comprehensive and best illustrated treatment of the fascinating tropical neem tree (Azadirachta indica) and its unique substances. The extracts from the neem tree have an enormously broad range of applications. The main substance azadirachtin, a tetranortriterpenoid, influences the hormone system of insects, exerting thereby a pesticidal effect. Feeding activity, reproduction and flying ability of insects are also affected. It is biologically degradable and can be easily extracted from the seeds of the tree. Other important uses of neem tree products are: - antifertility and population control - cure of human diseases - manure and nitrification inhibitors - feeds for domestic animals - soap production With its exhaustive treatment of the neem tree and closely related plants, this book provides us with an impressive example of the varied uses of renewable resources.

The chemicals from plant sources, generally termed as phytochemicals, play an important role in acceptance or rejection of the plant by the pests as they could be distasteful or toxic on one hand or on the other hand specialist herbivores have the capability to feed on many such chemicals, as they are able to process these natural products in a manner that is beneficial to them. In the wake of increasing environmental degradation due to burgeoning synthetic chemicals, there has been a process going on to rediscover the usefulness of plants and herbs and a continued effort for more than 2 decades has been to study the green products for cures for several ailments and pest management. In fact, according to Indian Medicinal Plants: A Sectoral Study, the global trade for medicinal plants amounts to about US $ 60 billion and the world demand continues to grow at the rate of 7 per cent per annum. Although many such plants are known in literature, neem has been one of trees with mani-fold virtues. Indian neem tree, Azadirachta indica A. Juss, which is a large evergreen tree, is an outstanding example among plants that has been subject matter of numerous scientific studies concerning its utilization in medicine, industry and agriculture. So far neem preparations have been evaluated against more than 500 species of insects and more than 400 hundred are reported to be susceptible at different concentrations.

Traditional and modern perspectives of neem; Using neem to controle pests; Effects of neem on montarget organisms; Socioeconomics of neem; Neem use in integrated pes management; Botanical pesticides other than neem; Lessons leamed and the next steps.

Academic Paper from the year 2015 in the subject Biology - Ecology, Michael Okpara University of Agriculture (National Root Crops Research Institute, Umudike), course: Pest Management and Control, language: English, abstract: Neem leaf extract from plant specie, Azadirachta indica (A. Juss) was investigated for efficacy and economics in the control and management of insect pests at the Students' Experimental and Research Farm of Federal College of Agriculture, Ishiagu, Ebonyi State, Nigeria in 2015. The results revealed that the frequency of grasshopper as the most prevalent insect pest was (49.06%), while white fly was the least (6.6%). The most prevalent insect pest that attacked cucumber was the spotted Cucumber beetle, (43.95%), while aphid was the least. The treatment solution, Deltamethrin at 10 ml/litre and 20 ml/li were highly phytotoxic, killing some of the maize and cucumber plants; but at 5.0 ml/litre, the plants were not affected and insect population was reduced as in all other treatments. Infestation of the plant continued till the 56 days after planting (DAP) and the insect population was consistently low on plants treated with Neem extract from 21 DAP to 56 DAP. Infestation of untreated plants attained a peak at 41 DAP. Insect population on untreated plants was not significantly higher (P > 0.05) than those on treated plots at 21 DAP and 56 DAP, respectively. This was probably due to the treatment application, which did not start until 21 DAP. There was 81% reduction in leaf damage on plants treated with A. indica at 20 ml/litre, 80% reduction at 10 ml/litre and 72% at 5 ml/litre; while plants treated with Deltamethrin at 5 .0ml/litre gave 54%, at 3.75 ml/litre, 52% and at 2.5 ml/litre, 50%, reduction in leaf area damaged respectively. The cost of deltamethrin at N1, 150.00 per litre compared with the cost of preparing 500 grammes of pounded neem leaves soaked in 1.5 litres of distilled water at N200.00 only. The difference of N950.00 indicates that synthetic chemical pesticide is very costly and resource- poor farmers may not be able to afford them to control pests in their farms. Therefore, it is concluded that Azadirachta indica (A. Juss) (neem) extract can be a suitable alternative to synthetic pesticide for the management of crop pests, and since it is cheap, available and easy to prepare, it can save the farmer's production cost. If this simple technology is adopted by small scale farmers, it will improve the farmers’ income, without harming the farmer, customers and consumers or disrupting the agro-ecosystem.

In Indian context.

Neem is a fascinating tree. On the one hand, it seems to be one of the most promising of all plants and may eventually benefit every person on the planet. Probably no other yields as many strange and varied products or has as many exploitable by-products. Indeed, as foreseen by some scientists, this plant may usher in a new era in pest control, provide millions with inexpensive medicines, cut down the rate of human population growth, and perhaps even reduce erosion, deforestation, and the excessive temperature of an overheated globe.On the other hand, that all remains only a vague promise. Although the enthusiasm may be justified, it is largely founded on empirical or anecdotal evidence. Our purpose here is to marshal the various facts about this little-known species, to help illuminate its future promise, and to speed realization of its potential.This report has been produced by the National Research Council particularly for nonspecialists such as government ministers, research directors, university students, private voluntary organizations, and entrepreneurs. It is intended as an economic development document, not a scientific monograph.