Maha Nimba – Melia azedarach

Article by Dr Shilpa Ramdas Bams MD (Ayu)

Maha Nimba often known as the Malabar Neem, belongs to the Meliaceae household. It’s usually confused with the frequent Neem (Azadirachta indica). Maha Nimba is valued for its medicinal properties.  It is usually cultivated for wooden and agroforestry advantages. It’s broadly utilized in plywood, paper industries, and reforestation initiatives. Its leaves and bark have conventional makes use of in Ayurveda medicinal preparation , notably for his or her antimicrobial and insect-repellent properties.

Scientific Title: Melia azedarach
Household: Meliaceae (Mahogany household)

Synonyms
महानिम्बो मदोद्रेकः कार्मुकः केशमुष्टिकः |
काकाण्डो रम्यकोऽक्षीरो महातिक्तो हिमद्रुमः ||११|| ( R N)

महानिम्बः स्मृतो द्रेका रम्यको विषमुष्टिकः |
केशामुष्टिर्निम्बकश्च कार्मुको जीव इत्यपि ||८५|| (BP)

Mahodreka
Karmuka
Keshamushtika
Kakanta
Ramyaka
aksahira
Mahatikta
Himadruma
Jiva
Vishamushtika – It’s helpful in rat poisoning

Frequent Names:
English title: Indian Lilac, Persian Lilac, Bead Tree,
Hindi – Bakain / Drek
Punjabi – Dharek
Bengali: Ghoranim
Sanskrit: Mahanimba
Kannada: Kadu Bevu
Punjabi: Dharek, Bakain, Drek
Malayalam: malaveppu

Botanical Description:
A medium-sized deciduous tree that grows to a peak of 30–60 toes. Leaves are Darkish inexperienced, alternate, bipinnate compound leaves with serrated edges.
Flowers: Small, pale purple coloured
Fruits: Small, spherical, yellowish when ripe.
Bark: Greyish -brown, tough with fissures

Elements Used: Leaves, bark, fruits, seeds, and roots

Medicinal Makes use of:
It has antibacterial, antifungal, and insecticidal properties.
Leaves are utilized in treating pores and skin illnesses, ulcers, and fever. Treats bacterial and fungal infections
Wound Therapeutic: Paste made out of leaves and bark is used to heal wounds
Bark has  Astringent style, it has anthelmintic property.
Fruits & Seeds are used as a purgative and bug repellent
Liver Well being: Aids in cleansing and helps liver operate

Properties
महानिम्बस्तु शिशिरः कषायः कटुतिक्तकः |
अस्रदाहबलासघ्नो विषमज्वरनाशनः ||१२|| ( R N)

महानिम्बो हिमो रूक्षस्तिक्तो ग्राही कषायकः |
कफपित्तभ्रमच्छर्दिकुष्ठहृल्लासरक्तजित् |
प्रमेहश्वासगुल्मार्शोमूषिकाविषनाशनः ||८६|| (BP Ni Guduchyadi varga)  

महानिम्बः स्मृतोद्रेकी कार्मुको विषमुष्टिकः |
केशमुष्टिर्निम्बवरो रम्यकोऽक्षीव एव च ||३४||
कैडर्यः पिचुमन्दश्च निम्बोऽरिष्टो वरत्वचः |
छर्दिघ्नो हिङ्गुनिर्यासः प्रियशालश्च पार्वतः ||३५||
महानिम्बो रसे तिक्तः शीतः पित्तकफापहः |
कुष्ठरक्तविनाशी च विषूचीं हन्ति शीतलः ||३६||
(Dhanwantari Nighantu / Guduchyadi varga)

Style – Kashaya (Atringent), Katu (Pungent), Tikta (Bitter )
Guna – Laghu, Ruksha
Virya – Sita
Vipaka – Katu
Motion on dosha – Pitta kapha samaka
Motion on Dhatu – Rakta prasadaka

Rogaghnata –
Vishamajvara nasana – indicated in fever
Bhrama – Giddiness
Hrillasa – Nausea
Chardhi – Vomiting
Kushta – Pores and skin issues
Rata pitta- bleeding issues
Prameha – Diabetes
Swasa – Respiration issues
Gulma – phantom tumour
Arshas – Hemorrhoids
Mushika visha – Rat poisoning

Its chilly efficiency and Kashaya, katu rasa helps to pacify pitta dosha, and katu vipaka and katu, tikta, Kashaya style pacifies kapha dosha.
The Sarngadhara Samhita textual content describes the usage of Mahanimba seeds within the administration of Diabetes Mellitus. Mahanimba seeds are triturated with rice water, ghee is added and brought internally.

Dose
Decoction – 50 – 100 ml
Seed powder – 1 – 3 gram

Different Makes use of:
It’s primarily utilized in furnishings business.
Leaves and seeds act as pure pesticides. A decoction or aqueous extract of Mahanimba leaves and seeds is sprayed on crops to repel and management pests.
Seeds are used to make rosaries and jewellery

Chemical Composition (Energetic Compounds)
Mahanimba incorporates a number of bioactive compounds, together with:
Alkaloids: Azaridine (Margosine)
Seeds comprise fatty oils like Stearic, palmitic acids.
The saponins and tannins current in Mahanimba exhibit antimicrobial and antifungal properties.

Toxicity:
Fruits and seeds comprise neurotoxins that may be poisonous if ingested in massive quantities, inflicting vomiting, diarrhea, weak point, and neurological signs in people and animals.

Poisonous Results:
Vomiting, diarrhea, stomach ache
Weak spot, tremors, respiratory misery, seizures, paralysis
Deadly in massive doses

Poisonous Compounds:
Meliatoxins & Toosendanin (have an effect on nervous and digestive programs)

8. Comparability with Azadirachta indica (Neem)
Each Melia azedarach (Mahanimba) and Azadirachta indica (Neem) belong to the identical household (Meliaceae) and have comparable properties, however they’ve key variations:

House cures

1. Crush recent leaves and apply the paste to the affected space
2. Boil leaves in water and use the decoction as a pores and skin wash
3. Leaf Extract is used to spray on crops to repel bugs
4. Burnt Leaves Smoke can be utilized as a mosquito repellent
5. Animal Well being (Veterinary Makes use of) – Treats parasites and pores and skin illnesses in livestock
6. Improves soil fertility by including natural matter
7. Leaves and twigs are used as inexperienced manure in fields
8. Utilized in  Furnishings, device handles, and fuelwood
9. Seeds are used to make rosaries, prayer beads, and ornamental objects
10. Bark and leaves comprise tannins utilized in pure dyeing

Precautions & Aspect Results
Over dose of seeds and fruits are poisonous to People & Animals .
Stay away from kids and pets
Keep away from throughout being pregnant & breastfeeding
Use solely below skilled steering in medicinal purposes

Abstract
Mahanimba (Melia azedarach) is a tree with medicinal, environmental, and business advantages. Nevertheless, as a consequence of its toxicity, it should be used with warning. It’s just like Neem however extra poisonous, making it much less appropriate for direct medicinal use. It’s primarily valued for pest management, timber, and environmental advantages.