Can Neem Tree Cure Typhoid Fever?

There is currently very little scientific evidence to suggest that Neem (Azadirachta indica) can cure typhoid. Typhoid is a bacterial infection caused by Salmonella typhi, and it requires medical treatment with antibiotics. While Neem has been traditionally used in Ayurvedic medicine for its antimicrobial properties, large-scale research or clinical evidence to support its use as a cure for typhoid is lacking. Therefore, It is important to seek medical attention from a healthcare professional if you suspect you have typhoid.

Little Details of Existing Evidence

An investigation was carried out by researchers at the Faculty of Pharmacy, Jinnah University for Women, Karachi,

Pakistan to analyze the in-vitro antibacterial properties of methanolic extracts of Glycyrrhiza glabra (licorice) and Azadirachta indica (neem tree) against two gram-positive and three gram-negative microorganisms.

This was done using the disk diffusion method with concentrations of 20 ppm, 30 ppm, and 40 ppm.

The mm scale was used to measure the zones of inhibition, which ranged from 6 mm to 17 mm.

The study showed that the methanolic extract of both plants had antibacterial properties, indicating that they could potentially serve as antibiotics and may help combat resistance against various pathogens.

Additionally, the plants’ anti-typhoid activity suggests that they could serve as potential agents for treating typhoid fever, sourced from natural plants.

Although there is some limited research indicating the potential of neem to treat typhoid fever, the absence of large-scale clinical trials means that there is currently no robust evidence to support its effectiveness.

Role of Plants in Medicine

The use of plant-based or natural products plays a significant role in preventing and treating diseases by boosting antioxidant activity, restraining bacterial growth, and influencing genetic pathways.

The therapeutic potential of several plants in managing diseases is currently the subject of enthusiastic research, owing to their affordability and fewer side effects.

It is widely acknowledged that allopathic drugs are expensive and may have harmful effects on normal tissues and biological activities.

Hence, many pharmacologically active drugs are derived from natural sources, particularly medicinal plants. [1]

Religious Teachings about Herbs as Medicine

The role of herbs in healthcare and disease prevention is also supported by various religious documents such as the Bible and the Quran.

From an Islamic perspective, the use of herbs in managing diseases is also acknowledged.

Use of Neem

In Ayurveda, Unani, Homeopathy, and modern medicine, the active components of neem are utilized to address a range of infectious, metabolic, and cancerous conditions.[2]

In many countries, people use different kinds of plants to make medicine for treating diseases.

One of these plants called neem, is found in India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Nepal.

Neem has many different parts that can help with treating diseases.

Scientists have found that neem can help with diseases by changing the way some genes work and by doing other things.

Some parts of neem, like quercetin and ß-sitosterol, can also kill germs that cause diseases. [3]

These parts were first found in the leaves of neem.

Several biological and pharmacological functions of neem have been documented, which include abilities to fight against bacterial and fungal infections, as well as reduce inflammation.

Previous researchers have also validated their potential for treating inflammation, arthritis, fever, low blood sugar, stomach ulcers, fungal and bacterial infections, and tumors.

How Neem(Azadirachta indica) Works – Mechanism of Action

It belongs to the Meliaceae family and has therapeutic benefits in preventing and treating various diseases.

However, the molecular mechanism underlying its pathogenesis prevention is not fully comprehended.

It is believed that Azadirachta indica exerts its therapeutic effects due to its abundant source of antioxidants and other valuable active compounds such as nimbidin, nimbin, nimbidol, nimbolinin, azadirachtin, salannin, and quercetin.

The potential mechanism of action of Azadirachta indica can be explained as follows.

The various parts of the Neem plant exhibit antimicrobial properties by inhibiting microbial growth and potential cell wall breakdown.

Azadirachtin, a complex tetranortriterpenoid limonoid found in Neem seeds, is the principal constituent responsible for both antifeedant and toxic effects in insects.

The results indicate that the ethanol extract of Neem leaves displayed in vitro antibacterial activity against both Staphylococcus aureus and MRSA, with the highest zones of inhibition observed at 100% concentration.[4]

Neem is known for its ability to scavenge free radicals due to its rich source of antioxidants. According to a study, both azadirachtin and nimbolide exhibit concentration-dependent antiradical scavenging activity and reductive potential, with nimbolide showing higher efficacy than azadirachtin and ascorbate [5].

Neem components have shown promising results in the management of cancer by regulating various cell signaling pathways. The plant has the ability to modulate the activity of various tumor suppressor genes such as p53 and pTEN, transcription factors like NF-κB, angiogenesis factors like VEGF, and apoptosis-related factors such as bcl2 and bax.

In addition, Neem also exhibits anti-inflammatory properties by regulating the activities of pro-inflammatory enzymes such as cyclooxygenase (COX) and lipoxygenase (LOX).

Take-Home

The World Health Organization reports that between 11 to 20 million individuals fall ill with typhoid annually, and the disease claims the lives of 128,000 to 161,000 people worldwide. Given its significant prevalence, it is crucial to seek appropriate treatment by consulting a healthcare provider. Antibiotics have proven effective in treating and curing the disease based on current evidence. While neem leaves may serve as a supplementary therapy, the existing evidence does not support their use as the primary treatment option.

References

#1. Zong A, Cao H, Wang F. Anticancer polysaccharides from natural resources: a review of recent research. Carbohydr Polym. 2012 Nov 6;90(4):1395-410. doi: 10.1016/j.carbpol.2012.07.026. Epub 2012 Jul 16. PMID: 22944395.

#2. Schmutterer H. The neem tree, Azadirachta indica A. Juss. and other meliaceous plants: source of unique natural products for integrated pest management, medicine, industry and other purposes.

#3. Govindachari, T.R., Suresh, G., Gopalakrishnan, G. et al. Identification of antifungal compounds from the seed oil ofAzadirachta Indica . Phytoparasitica 26, 109–116 (1998). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02980677

#4. Sarmiento WC, Maramba CC, Gonzales ML. An in-vitro study on the antibacterial effect of neem (Azadirachta indica) leaf extract on methicillin-sensitive and Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus. PIDSP J. 2011;12(1):40-5.

#5. Hossain MA, Al-Toubi WA, Weli AM, Al-Riyami QA, Al-Sabahi JN. Identification and characterization of chemical compounds in different crude extracts from leaves of Omani neem. Journal of Taibah University for Science. 2013 Oct 1;7(4):181-8.