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Abstract

Neem oil, extracted from the seeds of Azadirachta indica (family Meliaceae), is renowned for its wide range of bioactivities, including insecticidal, antibacterial, antifungal, antiviral, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory properties. However, its poor water solubility, susceptibility to oxidation, and instability under light and temperature restrict its direct use in pharmaceutical, agricultural, and cosmetic applications. Nanoemulsion technology has emerged as an effective strategy to overcome these challenges by encapsulating neem oil within nanosized droplets (typically 20?200 nm), thereby enhancing its solubility, bioavailability, stability, and controlled release. Neem oil Nanoemulsion (NEs) are generally prepared using high-energy (ultrasonication, high-pressure homogenization) or low-energy (phase inversion, spontaneous emulsification) methods with biocompatible surfactants and co-surfactants. Numerous studies have reported improved larvicidal, pesticidal, and antimicrobial activities of neem oil NEs compared to bulk formulations, owing to increased surface area, better wetting, and deeper penetration into biological membranes. Furthermore, recent advances focus on green surfactants, solid nanoemulsion gels, and polymer-based delivery systems for sustained efficacy and reduced toxicity. This review critically discusses the formulation strategies, characterization techniques, biological applications, and future prospects of neem oil nanoemulsions, highlighting their potential as eco-friendly and multifunctional nanocarriers for sustainable agriculture and biomedicine.

Keywords

Neem oil; Azadirachta indica; Nanoemulsion; Green nanotechnology; Biopesticide; Antimicrobial; Larvicidal activity; Drug delivery; Stability; Controlled release

Introduction

Neem oil contains several bioactive compounds — the most-studied being azadirachtin, nimbin, salannin and other limonoids — that exhibit insect growth regulatory, repellent and antimicrobial effects. However, neem oil is hydrophobic, prone to oxidation and photodegradation, and difficult to apply uniformly in aqueous environments1. Converting neem oil into oil-in-water nanoemulsions (droplet diameters typically <200 nm for many NEs; some reports show ~30–100 nm) overcomes these limitations by increasing surface area, improving spreading/wetting on target surfaces and enhancing penetration and bioavailability of active constituents2. Several studies and reviews have reported markedly improved larvicidal, antimicrobial and pesticidal performance for neem oil nanoemulsions compared to bulk oil preparations 3 Neem (Azadirachta indica A. Juss.), belonging to the family Meliaceae, is one of the most valuable medicinal plants native to the Indian subcontinent. It has been referred to as the “Village Pharmacy” due to its wide range of therapeutic and agricultural applications. Every part of the neem tree—leaves, seeds, bark, flowers, fruits, and roots—contains bioactive compounds with potent antibacterial, antifungal, antiviral, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and insecticidal properties4.

Reference

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Diksha Patare
Corresponding author

Yash institute of pharmacy

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Amruta Parwardhan
Co-author

Yash institute of pharmacy

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Abhishek Pawar
Co-author

Yash institute of pharmacy

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Komal Pawar
Co-author

Yash institute of pharmacy

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Pooja Karpe
Co-author

Yash institute of pharmacy

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Dr. Sachidanand Angdi
Co-author

Yash institute of pharmacy

Diksha Patare*, Amruta Parwardhan, Abhishek Pawar, Komal Pawar, Pooja Karpe, Dr. Sachidanand Angdi, Neem Oil Nanoemulsion, Int. J. Sci. R. Tech., 2025, 2 (11), 448-454. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.17628486

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