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Azadirachta indica (Neem) Healing Entertainment

Azadirachta indica, commonly known as neem, nimtree or Indian lilac, is a tree in the mahogany family Meliaceae. It is one of two species in the genus. 

Products made from neem trees have been used in India for over two millennia for their medicinal properties. Neem products are believed by Siddha and Ayurvedic practitioners to be anthelmintic, antifungal, antidiabetic, antibacterial, contraceptive, and sedative. It is considered a major component in siddha medicine and Ayurvedic and Unani medicine and is particularly prescribed for skin diseases. Neem oil is also used for healthy hair, to improve liver function, detoxify the blood, and balance blood sugar levels. Neem leaves have also been used to treat skin diseases like eczema, psoriasis.

Neem elaborates a vast array of biologically active compounds that are chemically diverse and structurally complex. More than 140 compounds have been isolated from different parts of neem. All parts of the neem tree- leaves, flowers, seeds, fruits, roots and bark have been used traditionally for the treatment of inflammation, infections, fever, skin diseases and dental disorders. The medicinal utilities have been described especially for neem leaf. Neem leaf and its constituents have been demonstrated to exhibit immunomodulatory, anti-inflammatory, antihyperglycaemic, antiulcer, antimalarial, antifungal, antibacterial, antiviral, antioxidant, antimutagenic and anticarcinogenic properties. 

Enteroviruses are a group of viruses that cause a number of infectious illnesses which are usually mild. However if they infect the central nervous system, they can cause serious illness. The two most common ones are echovirus and coxsackievirus, but there are several others.

Coxsackie B 1–4 viruses are typically the most severe and fatal neonatal diseases. Common symptoms can include myocarditis, meningoencephalitis, and hepatitis. Other less severe symptoms can include pneumonia, Gastrointestinal symptoms, pancreatitis, and seizures. Patients with Coxsackie B4 virus have seemed to have herpangina, tonsillitis, and pharyngitis.[6]

The antiviral and virucidal effect of methanolic extract fraction of leaves of neem (Azadirachta indica A. Juss) (NCL-11) was studied regarding its activity and possible mechanism of action against Coxsackie B group of viruses. NCL-11 inhibited plaque formation in 6 antigenic types of Coxsackie virus B at a concentration of 1000 micrograms/ml at 96 hrs. 'in vitro'. Additionally virus inactivation, yield reduction and effect of time of addition assays suggested that NCL-11 was most effective against coxsackie virus B-4 as a virucidal agent besides interfering at an early event of its replicative cycle.

Insufficient research has been done to assess the purported benefits of neem, however. In adults, short-term use of neem is safe, while long-term use may harm the kidneys or liver; in small children, neem oil is toxic and can lead to death. Neem may also cause miscarriages, infertility, and low blood sugar.

Hibiscus Sabdariffa

Hibiscus tea is a herbal tea made as an infusion from crimson or deep magenta-colored calyces (sepals) of the roselle (Hibiscus sabdariffa) flower. It is consumed both hot and cold. It has a tart, cranberry-like flavor.

Hibiscus  sabdariffa  is  a  medicinal  plant  that  is  consumed  for  its  health benefits, juice/concoction  prepared from  the plant  is taken  as  a preventive/curative  measures against  diabetes  and  hypertension.  The antihypertensive  and  other  pharmacological properties  such  as  antibacterial, anti-oxidant,  nephro-  and  hepato-protective, renal/diuretic  effect,  anti-cholesterol,  and anti-diabetic  effects of  Hibiscus sabdariffa have  been demonstrated  in  several  studies.  Constituents  of  different  plant  parts  of Hibiscus sabdariffa  include phenolic acids,  organic acid, flavonoids  and anthocyanins which may contribute to the pharmacological effects of the plant. Hibiscus sabdariffa is relatively  safe  as  LD50  of  its  extract  in  rats  was found  to  be  above  5000  mg/kg. Therefore, Hibiscus  sabdariffa  because  of its  pharmacological and  nutritional  benefits could  be  exploited  in  the management  of  various  pathological  conditions  such  as cardiovascular disease, cancer, neurological disorders and diabetes. 

Hydroxycitric acid (HCA) is a derivative of citric acid that is found in a variety of tropical plants including Garcinia cambogia and Hibiscus subdariffa.

Anticancer effect  In  vitro  studies  have  shown  that  Hibiscus sabdariffa extracts can  induce apoptosis  in  cancer cells.  Hibiscus  polyphenol-rich  extracts  (HPE) induce  cell  death  in  human  gastric  carcinoma (AGS)  in  a  concentration-dependent  manner  (Lin et al., 2005; Lin et al., 2007), this effect of HPE on AGS cells was mediated via p53 signalling and p38 MAPK/FasL  cascade  pathway  (Lin  et  al,  2005). Also,  Hibiscus  anthocyanins  extract  (a  group  of natural  pigments  existing  in  the  dried  calyx  of Hibiscus  sabdariffa  L.)  caused  cancer  cell apoptosis,  in  HL-60  cells  (Chang  et  al,  2005; Sowemimo  et  al.,  2007),  similarly  Delphinidin  3-sambubioside  (Dp3-Sam),  isolated from  the  dried calices  of  Hibiscus sabdariffa L.  induce  apoptosis in  human  leukemia  cells  (HL-60)  (Hou  et  al, 2005).  Anticlastogenic  effects  of  Hibiscus sabdariffa  extract  has been  demonstrated  against sodium arsenite-induced micronuclei  formation in erythrocytesin mouse bone marrow (Adetutu et al., 2004). Various studies on  Hibiscus protocatechuic acid  has  demonstrated  its  ability  to  inhibit  the carcinogenic  action  of  various  chemicals  in different  tissues  of  the  rat,  including  diethyl nitrosamine  in  the  liver  (Tanaka  et  al.,  1993),  4-nitroquinoline-1-oxide in the oral cavity (Tanaka et al., 1994), azoxymethane in the colon (Kawamori et al.,  1994),  N-methyl-N-nitrosourea  in  glandular stomach  tissue (Tanaka  et  al.,  1995)  and  Nbutyl- N-(4-hydroxybutyl)nitrosamine  in  the  bladder (Hirose  et  al.,  1995).  Tseng  et  al.  (2000)  also demonstrated  that  Hibiscus  protocatechuic  acid inhibits  the  survival of  human  promyelocytic HL-60  cells  in  a  concentration-  and  time-dependent manner. The data presented by Tseng et al. (2000) suggest that the compound is an apoptosis inducer in  human  leukaemia  cells  and  that  RB phosphorylation  and  Bcl-2  protein  may  play  a crucial role in the early stage.

Conclusion  The  information  from  in vitro  and  in-vivo  studies shows  a  wide  range  of  potentially  new  health applications  and  therapeutic  targets  for  Hibiscus sabdariffa.  Hibiscus  sabdariffa  is  relatively  safe and  virtually  non-toxic.  Many  pharmacological properties of H. sabdariffa may be attributed to the presence  of  a  plethora  of  phytochemicals  in  the plant.  The  potent  antioxidant  activity  of  Hibiscus sabdariffa may  be  linked  to  the presence different antioxidants  compounds  with  differing  sites  and mechanisms  of  action  which  may  act  alone  or  in concert  with  one  another.  Therefore,  dietary supplementation  of  Hibiscus  sabdariffa  plant extract  may  be  beneficial  in  reducing  the  risk  of developing various pathological conditions such as cardiovascular  disease,  cancer,  neurological disorders and diabetes.