Azadirachtin & Clarified Hydrophobic Extract of Neem Oil

These two active ingredients are derived from the oil found in Neem tree seeds. Humans have used this naturally-occurring oil for centuries for medicinal, cosmetic, and pesticidal purposes. When used in pesticide products, both azadirachtin and clarified hydrophobic extract of Neem Oil can be applied to many food and non-food crops indoors and outdoors to control certain insects and related pests. Adverse effects are not expected to humans, wildlife, or the environment when products containing these active ingredients are used according to label directions. Labels direct users not to contaminate water and not to apply when honey bees are actively visiting flowers in the area.

I. DESCRIPTION OF THE ACTIVE INGREDIENT

Active Ingredient Name: Azadirachtin

Active Ingredient Name: Clarified Hydrophobic Extract of Neem Oil

Azadirachtin and Clarified Hydrophobic Extract of Neem Oil are derived from the natural oil found in seeds of the neem tree, Azadirachta indica A.Juss, which is native to arid regions of India. The ability of the oil to repel pests has been known for thousands of years; the oil also has been used on skin and medicinally. When the natural neem oil is removed from the seeds and treated with alcohol, virtually all of the azadirachtin and related substances separate from the oil itself. The remaining oil - without the azadirachtin - is called Clarified Hydrophobic Extract of Neem Oil.  Azadirachtin acts in the following ways: It deters certain insects, such as locusts, from feeding and it interferes with the normal life cycle of insects, including feeding, molting, mating, and egg lying.

II. USE SITES, TARGET PESTS, AND APPLICATION METHODS

Use Sites: Food and non-food plants; ornamentals; commercial and residential indoor and outdoor sites.

EFFECTIVE AGAINST

House Cricket                                     Colorado Potato Beetle                        Diamondback Moth
Aphids                                                  Serpentine Leafminer                            Flea Beetle
German Cochroach                              Migratory Locust                                  Desert Locust
Northern House Mosquitoes                 Root Knot Nematode                           Fall Armyworm
Oriental Fruit Fly                                  Face Fly                                               Two spotted Spider Mite
Spotted Cucumber Beetle                     Brown Planthopper                              Webbing Cloths Moth 
Corn Earworm                                     Large Milkweed Bug                            Confused Flour Beetle
Boll Worms                                         Pink Bollworm                                      Cabbage Looper

Clarified hydrophobic extract of neem oil: Unlike azadirachtin, this active ingredient is also active against fungal diseases such as mildews and rusts.

Application Methods: Products normally are sprayed on plants

III. ASSESSING RISKS TO HUMAN HEALTH

Based on results of toxicity tests, risks to human health are not expected from use of these active ingredients.

IV. ASSESSING RISKS TO THE ENVIRONMENT

When used as directed on product labels, neither clarified hydrophobic extract of neem oil nor azadirachtin are expected to harm non-target organisms. The substances are found in the environment, where they degrade naturally. However, product labels direct users not to apply the products directly to water, not to contaminate water during cleaning or disposal activities, and not to apply when honeybees are actively foraging.

MODE OF ACTION OF NEEM OIL PRODUCTS

The principal active ingredient is Azadirachtin. Other ingredients include Deacetylazadirachtinol, Meliantriol, Vepol, Salannin, sulfur compounds, etc. The active ingredients act as repellants, feeding inhibitors (antifeeders), egg-laying deterrents, growth retardants, sterilants, direct toxins, etc.

Azadirachtin (main ingredient in neem oil) is a repellant to adult leafminers and is a systemic insect growth regulator (IGR) on larvae. An IGR is a juvenile hormone that prevents insects from reaching maturity and reproducing. These simultaneous effects gives NEEM oil an edge over other expensive synthetic pesticides which work only one way.

(1)   Antifeedant through mouth.

(a)    Primarily it inhibits the activity of sensory receptors of mouth parts, distorts normal probing, feeding and intake of food.

(b)   Ingestion of active ingredients through food leads to starvation and death.

(2)   Dermal action: It enters thru the cuticle of the insects and inhibits chitin synthesis, thus causing desiccation and death.

(3)   Repellent Effect: Due to change in locomotor and settling behavior of insects, in some cases mating as well as sexual communication is disrupted.

(4)   Growth Disruptive Effect: By inhibition of the normal growth of the insect by interfering in the moulting cycle. It suppresses the activity of ecdysone so the larva does not moult, but remains at the young stage and dies.

(5)   Effect on survival and reproduction by oviposition deterrent action: When the female comes to an egg laying period of its life cycle, the egg laying is prevented.

(6)   Effect on endocrine system: Neem preparations are accumulated in the neurosecretory systemand, by penetrating the blood brain barrier, are concentrated in the corpus cardiacum, resulting in the reduced turnover of neurosecretory proteins.

Neem products (like Neem oil, Neem oil cake, etc.)

a.       Do not have an immediate knock-down effect like most of the synthetic chemicals. For quicker kill (immediate knock down) following are alternatives.  

                 (i) For nonorganic farming using Neem products with traditional synthetic chemical 

                      type insecticides (like Piperonyl Butoxide) a synergy (increased effect by

                       multifold)  is well documented.

                 (ii) For organic farming adding sesame oil or Pyrethrins (extracted from

                      Chrysanthemum flowers) to (in 1 to 1 ratio) Neem oil increases the potency

                      several fold plus immediate knock down effect.

b.      Effective against those insects that have now become resistant to chemicals and doing more damage.

c.       Effective against those pests that live concealed and well protected in the plant parts.

Neem oil has both contact and systemic action in plants. When it is applied to the soil plants absorb it through their roots and distribute (translocate) it through out the plant (the bioinsecticides remain active within the plant tissues for 3 weeks). When applied to the plant foliage, it needs repeated applications periodically (the bioinsecticides degrade by sun within 24 hours).