Abstract
Neem tree (Azadirachta indica) is one of the richest sources of
secondary metabolites. More than 250 natural products have been
characterized from various parts of the neem tree. These include
diterpenoids, triterpenoids, steroids, flavonoids, coumarins, hydrocarbons,
and fatty acids. Many of these products possess therapeutic properties. Neem
exudate or toddy is a milky white liquid with a strong smell secreted from
the angle between the 2 main branches of old trees. Profiling of neem toddy
for the presence of active metabolites was done by an in-house database
using UHPLC-QTOF-MS. Fifty-seven metabolites were identified from the full
scan of electrospray ionization positive and negative mode from the neem
toddy extract by using UHPLC-QTOF-MS. Further confirmation of 31 of these
metabolites was done by obtaining MS/MS spectrum from UHPLC-QTOF-MS.
Principal component analysis study of metabolites from neem toddy with
leaves, seed, seed coat, and bark revealed that they are closely related to
those contained in neem seeds and seed coats. Azadirachtin, nimbidiol,
22,23-dihydroazadirachtin, nimbonone, nimbonolone, nimosone, and
6-deacetylnimbinene were found to be some of the most abundant metabolites
in neem toddy. The neem toddy extract showed significant anti-inflammatory
activity when tested in N9 murine microglial cells with 25 ng of recombinant
mouse tumor necrosis factor alpha protein (active) using qRT-PCR. The active
metabolites in neem toddy could be further explored for their therapeutic
potentials.
Key words
neem toddy - UHPLC-QTOF-MS - metabolites - principal component analysis - anti-inflammation
- Neem (
Azadirachta indica); family Meliaceae
