Antifungal activity of neem (Azardirachta indica) toddy

Neem (Azardirachta indica) is regarded as ‘village pharmacy’ in India due to its enormous use in the Indian villages as a folk medicine. Its different parts have been explored scientifically, except ‘Neem toddy’, which is a white secretion that exudes from the angle formed between the two major branches of old neem trees. The exact age of the tree upon the secretion of this white fluid is not known, nor why such a secretion occurs. It is normal, though rare, for such secretions to occur in old trees. The taste of neem toddy is bitter. The white milky liquid secretion, the ‘neem toddy’, was collected from the tree and assayed for the presence of phenolic acids by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The phenolic acids detected were caffeic, vanillic, o-coumaric, cinnamic and salicylic acids. It was further fractionated by ethyl acetate and this fraction was tested against some fungi for antifungal activity. It was observed to be highly antifungal in vitro. Field experiments also showed its high efficacy against balsam (Impatiens balsamina) powdery mildew (Erysiphe cichoracearum).