Neem (Azadirachta indica A. Juss.)

Neem, a prodigious multipurpose tree of the tropics, has immense potential to benefit mankind and to protect the environment. Often called ‘Gift of the Gods’ or ‘Nature’s Pharmacy’, the tree is exploited as a commercial medicine and antibiotic. Extracts from its extremely bitter seeds may be the source of a new generation of chemicals in Integrated Pest Management. Kinetin and GA3 are regulators which mediate reproductive differentiation. These reports are based on their ubiquity, abundance in growing tissues and their effects on growth and development. Polyamines (putrescine, spermidine and spermine) as growth regulators produce various responses at molecular level; influence protein, nucleic acid and mitotic activity and also play a role in cell division, growth and induction of invertase and phosphatase syntheses. The principle aims of our study are: (i)to determine regulatory role of exogenous growth regulators on the active principles in seed, (ii)to assess the role of the plant growth substance in the secondary metabolic pathway of biologically active compounds and (iii)to exploit the potential of growth regulators in increasing pharmaceutical yield.