TRACE ELEMENTS CONTENT OF NEEM LEAVES (AZADIRACHTA INDICA)

ABSTRACT

The global scenario is now supporting the development of modern drugs from less toxic plant products with proven medicinal properties. Each part of the neem plant (Azadirachta indica A. Juss) reportedly has various medicinal properties and has been in use in many continents for centuries. In this project work, water extract from Neem leaves (Azadirachta indica A Juss) with the modern atomic absorption spectrophotometer was presented. The mineral and chemical properties in the water extract of Neem leaf were studied. Results showed that the neem leaf contains some essential minerals needed by the biochemical system. It is obvious that the water extract of Azadirachta indica is significantly high in sodium ion (Na+) and potassium ion (K+) concentrations which are responsible in the conduction of impulses along the axons of the central nervous system. Iron is another element determined. This element is significantly low in the water extract of the sample used (neem leaf).

Title page - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - .i

Certification - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - .ii

Dedication - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - iii

Acknowledgement - - - - - - - - - - - - - - iv

Abstract - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - v

Table of contents - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ..vi

CHAPTER ONE

1.0 Introduction - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 1

1.1 Aim of project - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 2

CHAPTER TWO

2.0 Literature review - - - - - - - - - - - - - ..3

2.1 History of Neem tree - - - - - - - - - - - - 4

2.2 Scientific classification - - - - - - - - - - - - 5

2.3 Description of the Neem tree - - - - - - - - - - - 6

2.4 Neem oil - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 7

2.5 Neem gum - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 8

2.6 Neem honey - - - - - - - - - - - - - - .9

2.7 Chemical compounds in Neem - - - - - - - - - - 10

2.8 Medicinal properties of Neem - - - - - - - - - - .11

2.9 Modern researches on the effect of Neem - - - - - - - - 12

2.9.1 Neem effect against microorganisms - - - - - - - - - 13

2.9.2 Neem effect against ailments - - - - - - - - - - - 14

2.9.3 Toxicity of Neem - - - - - - - - - - - - - .15

2.9.4 Neem as a vegetable - - - - - - - - - - - - .16

CHAPTER THREE

3.0 Materials and methods - - - - - - - - - - - - .17

3.1 Raw material used - - - - - - - - - - - - - 18

3.2 Sample preparation - - - - - - - - - - - - ..19

3.3 Equipment used - - - - - - - - - - - - - 20

3.4 Atomic absorption spectrophotometer determination - - - - - - .21

CHAPTER FOUR

4.1 Results - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 22

4.2 Discussion - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ..23

4.3 Conclusion - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 24

REFERENCES