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Patil SM, Shirahatti PS, V B CK, Ramu R, M N NP. Azadirachta indica A. Juss (neem) as a contraceptive: An evidence-based review on its pharmacological efficiency. Phytomedicine 2021; 88:153596. [PMID: 34092456 DOI: 10.1016/j.phymed.2021.153596] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2020] [Revised: 05/01/2021] [Accepted: 05/11/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Azadirachta indica A. Juss. is an Indian medicinal plant with innumerable pharmacological properties. Studies have proven that the phytochemicals from neem possess remarkable contraceptive abilities with limited knowledge on its mechanism of action. PURPOSE The present review aims to summarize the efficiency of A. indica treatment as a contraceptive. METHODS The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines were used. Published scientific articles on antifertility, antispermatogenic, antiovulation, hormone altering, contraceptive, and abortifacient activities of A. indica were collected from reputed Journals from 1980 to 2020 using electronic databases. Specific keywords search was completed to collect numerous articles with unique experiment design and significant results. This was followed by the selection of the requisite articles based on the criteria designed by the authors. Data extraction was based on the common research elements included in the articles. RESULTS A total of 27 studies were considered for reviewing, which included key pharmacological investigations. In the beginning, authors evaluated a number of publications on the contraceptive properties of A. indica, in which it was revealed that most of the publications were made between 2005 and 2009. All the collected articles were categorised and reviewed as antifertility, antispermatogenic, antiovulation, hormone altering, contraceptive, and abortifacient. Authors also assessed studies based on the plant parts used for pharmacological evaluations including leaves, seeds, stem-bark, and flowers. The article was primarily divided into different sections based on the previous works of authors on phytochemistry and pharmacological review articles. CONCLUSION Although A. indica is not reported with the complete alleviation of reproductive system in both male and female animal models, studies have proven its efficacy as a contraceptive. Extracts and phytochemicals from neem neither reduced the libido nor retarded the growth of secondary sexual characters, thus indicating only a temporary and reversible contraceptive activity. However, there is a dearth for clinical studies to prove the efficacy of A. indica as a herbal contraceptive.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shashank M Patil
- Department of Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, School of Life Sciences, JSS Academy of Higher Education and Research, Mysuru, 570015, Karnataka, India
| | | | - Chandana Kumari V B
- Department of Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, School of Life Sciences, JSS Academy of Higher Education and Research, Mysuru, 570015, Karnataka, India
| | - Ramith Ramu
- Department of Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, School of Life Sciences, JSS Academy of Higher Education and Research, Mysuru, 570015, Karnataka, India.
| | - Nagendra Prasad M N
- Department of Biotechnology, Sri Jayachamarajendra College of Engineering, JSS Science and Technology University, JSS Technical Institutional Campus, Mysore, 570006, Karnataka, India
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Pandreka A, Chaya PS, Kumar A, Aarthy T, Mulani FA, Bhagyashree DD, B SH, Jennifer C, Ponnusamy S, Nagegowda D, Thulasiram HV. Limonoid biosynthesis 3: Functional characterization of crucial genes involved in neem limonoid biosynthesis. Phytochemistry 2021; 184:112669. [PMID: 33524856 DOI: 10.1016/j.phytochem.2021.112669] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/11/2020] [Revised: 01/09/2021] [Accepted: 01/09/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Neem (Azadirachta indica L.) is well known for its medicinal, agricultural, and pesticidal applications since ages. The secondary metabolites, limonoids, confer these biological properties, wherein over 150 different limonoids have been reported from neem. To understand limonoid biosynthesis, we analyzed tissue-specific (kernel, pericarp, leaves, and flower) transcriptome that resulted in the identification of one farnesyl diphosphate synthase (AiFDS), one squalene synthase (AiSQS), three squalene epoxidases (AiSQE1, AiSQE2, and AiSQE3), two triterpene synthases (AiTTS1 and AiTTS2), cycloartenol synthase (AiCAS), two cytochrome P450 reductases, and ten cytochrome P450 systems. Comparative tissue-expression analysis indicated that AiFDS, AiSQS, AiSQE3, and AiTTS1 are expressed higher in the kernel than in the other tissues. Heterologously expressed recombinant AiTTS1 produced tirucalla-7,24-dien-3β-ol as the sole product. Expression profile data, phylogeny with triterpene synthases from Meliaceae and Rutaceae families, real-time PCR of different tissues, and transient transformation revealed the involvement of tirucalla-7,24-dien-3β-ol synthase (AiTTS1) in limonoid biosynthesis. Further, mutagenesis studies of AiTTS1 indicated that Y125 and F260 are probably involved in stabilization of dammarenyl cation. A 2.6-fold increase in production of tirucalla-7,24-dien-3β-ol was observed when AiSQE1 was co-expressed with mutant AiTTS1 in a yeast system. Furthermore, we functionally characterized the highly expressed cytochrome P450 reductases and cycloartenol synthase. This study helps in further analysis and identification of genes involved in limonoid biosynthesis in Meliaceae/Rutaceae and their production in a metabolically tractable heterologous system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Avinash Pandreka
- Chemical Biology Unit, Division of Organic Chemistry, CSIR-National Chemical Laboratory, Dr. Homi Bhabha Road, Pune, 411008, India; CSIR-Institute of Genomics and Integrative Biology, Mall Road, New Delhi, 110007, India.
| | - Patil S Chaya
- Chemical Biology Unit, Division of Organic Chemistry, CSIR-National Chemical Laboratory, Dr. Homi Bhabha Road, Pune, 411008, India.
| | - Ashish Kumar
- Chemical Biology Unit, Division of Organic Chemistry, CSIR-National Chemical Laboratory, Dr. Homi Bhabha Road, Pune, 411008, India.
| | - Thiagarayaselvam Aarthy
- Chemical Biology Unit, Division of Organic Chemistry, CSIR-National Chemical Laboratory, Dr. Homi Bhabha Road, Pune, 411008, India.
| | - Fayaj A Mulani
- Chemical Biology Unit, Division of Organic Chemistry, CSIR-National Chemical Laboratory, Dr. Homi Bhabha Road, Pune, 411008, India.
| | - Date D Bhagyashree
- Chemical Biology Unit, Division of Organic Chemistry, CSIR-National Chemical Laboratory, Dr. Homi Bhabha Road, Pune, 411008, India.
| | - Shilpashree H B
- CSIR-Central Institute of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants, Bengaluru, 560065, India.
| | - Cheruvathur Jennifer
- Chemical Biology Unit, Division of Organic Chemistry, CSIR-National Chemical Laboratory, Dr. Homi Bhabha Road, Pune, 411008, India.
| | - Sudha Ponnusamy
- Chemical Biology Unit, Division of Organic Chemistry, CSIR-National Chemical Laboratory, Dr. Homi Bhabha Road, Pune, 411008, India.
| | - Dinesh Nagegowda
- CSIR-Central Institute of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants, Bengaluru, 560065, India.
| | - Hirekodathakallu V Thulasiram
- Chemical Biology Unit, Division of Organic Chemistry, CSIR-National Chemical Laboratory, Dr. Homi Bhabha Road, Pune, 411008, India; CSIR-Institute of Genomics and Integrative Biology, Mall Road, New Delhi, 110007, India.
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