SOME PHARMACOLOGICAL ACTIONS OF ‘NIMBIDIN’- A BITTER PRINCIPLE OF AZADIRACHTA INDICA-A JUSS (NEEM)

Nimbidin the major bitter principle from oil of seeds of Azadirachta indica A. Juss was investigated for various pharmacological actions in a number animal models. On central nervous system it exhibited moderate sedative effect it did not show any significant cardiovascular effects in experimental animals. Autonomic pharmacological studies (in-vitro) revealed pronounced anticholinergic antihistaminic (H1-receptor), anti 5 HT and antinicotinic activities. But in-vivo tests did not show any anticholinergic or anti-histaminic activity. Nimbidin possessed moderate diuretic activity and was found to be devoid of local anaesthetic and antiandrogenic effects in rodents