Over the last few decades, research on neem seed extracts has resulted in identifying several important limonoids that exhibit a wide variety of biological activity as an insecticide and to some extent as a fungicide.
Photo: Courtesy of BioSafe Systems

One of the outcomes of the organic green revolution is a greater awakening to ancient technologies from other cultures that offer the modern world sustainable solutions to age old problems. The seed extracts from the neem tree, as a natural insecticide, is one such discovery that can fall into this category.

Neem is an evergreen tree native to the Indian sub-continent and is perhaps the most researched tree in the world for its pest control uses. BioSafe Systems has adapted these old time remedies into sustainable products like Botanical Insecticide/Nematicide, BioSafe Insect Control.

Azadirachtin is among these limonoids that was shown to have powerful natural insecticide properties, acting as an insect growth regulator, anti-feedant and ovi-position inhibitor. Over the years, methods were developed to extract this compound in pure powder form (Azadirachtin Technical), ranging in Azadirachtin concentrations from 1 to 6 percent, and used for making commercial pesticide formulations.

The company uses 3 percent Azadirachtin as the active ingredient in BioSafe Insect Control. Azadirachtin Technical-Powder Extract Since 1985, Azadirachtin based pesticide products have been widely used in both agriculture and horticulture.

While all of these products and formulations may appear to be similar with Azadirachtin as an active ingredient, efficacy of these formulations can be significantly different as there are factors other than Azadirachtin, that contribute to the performance of the product. It starts from the conditions under which the technical material is extracted, stored, and formulated.

There are a number of technical hurdles in this stage since Azadirachtin is hydrophilic in nature. If not extracted and stored properly, moisture/humidity will break apart the compound, making it less effective. Azadirachtin is most potent when it is extracted from the seeds of a fresh harvest, but the purity of the powder extract (technical) in terms of percentage of Azadirachtin, can also make a difference. For more information go to www.biosafesystems.com.