Editing Azadirachta indica (section)

== Uses ==
[[File:Neem tree farm in south india.jpg|thumb|Neem tree farm from south India]]
[[File:Neem.jpg|thumb|A large tree]]
[[File:Neem tree leaves.JPG|thumb|Leaves]]
[[File:Bark (5059231711).jpg|thumb|Bark]]
[[File:Ineem seeds .jpg|thumb|Neem seeds]]
Margosa leaves are dried in India and placed in cupboards to prevent insects from eating clothes, and in containers in which [[rice]] and [[wheat]] are stored.<ref name="bbc.co.uk">{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/4916044.stm|title=Neem: India's tree of life|author=Anna Horsbrugh Porter|date=17 April 2006|work=BBC News}}</ref> The flowers are also used in many [[Indian festivals]] like [[Ugadi]]. ''See below: [[#Association with Hindu festivals in India]].''

=== Culinary ===
{{Unreferenced section|date=February 2021}}
The tender shoots and flowers of the margosa tree are eaten as a vegetable in India. A soup-like dish called ''{{Transliteration|ta|vēppam pū cāṟu}}'' ({{lang|ta|வேப்பம் பூ சாறு}}) in [[Tamil language|Tamil]] (translated as "margosa flower [[Rasam (dish)|rasam]]") made of the flower of neem is prepared in [[Tamil Nadu]]. In [[Bengal]], young margosa leaves are fried in oil with tiny pieces of [[aubergine]] (brinjal). The dish is called ''nim bēgun bhājā'' ({{Lang|bn|নিম বেগুন ভাজা}}) and is the first item during a Bengali meal, which acts as an appetizer. It is eaten with rice.

Margosa is used in parts of mainland [[Southeast Asia]], particularly in [[Cambodia]], Laos (where it is called ''kadao'' [{{Lang|lo|ກະເດົາ}}]), [[Thailand]] (where it is known as ''sadao'' [{{Lang|th|สะเดา}} {{IPA|th|sàʔ daw|}} or ''satao'' {{Lang|th|สะเตา}} {{IPA|th|sàʔ taw|}}]), [[Myanmar]] (where it is known as ''ta.ma'' [{{Lang|my|တမာ}}]) and Vietnam (where it is known as {{Lang|vi|sầu đâu}} and is used to cook the salad {{Lang|vi|gỏi sầu đâu}}). Even if lightly cooked, the flavour is quite bitter, and the food is not consumed by all inhabitants of these nations. In Myanmar, young [[Leaves|margosa leaves]] and flower buds are boiled with [[tamarind]] fruit to soften its bitterness and eaten as a vegetable. Pickled margosa leaves are also eaten with tomato and fish paste sauce in Myanmar.

=== Traditional medicine ===
Products made from margosa trees have been used in the [[traditional medicine]] of India for centuries,<ref name="bbc.co.uk"/><ref name="drugs">{{cite web|url=https://www.drugs.com/npp/neem.html |title=Neem |publisher=Drugs.com |access-date=21 September 2020 |date=13 August 2020}}</ref> for treating skin troubles and [[rheumatism]],<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Tejesvi |first1=M.V. |last2=Tamhankar |first2=S.A. |last3=Kini |first3=K.R |last4=Rao |first4=V.S. |last5=Prakash |first5=H.S. |title=Phylogenetic analysis of endophytic ''Pestalotiopsis'' species from ethnopharmaceutically important medicinal trees. |journal=Fungal Diversity |date=2009 |volume=38 |pages=167–183}}</ref> but there is [[evidence-based medicine|insufficient clinical evidence]] to indicate any benefits of using margosa for medicinal purposes.<ref name=drugs/> In adults, no specific doses have been established, and short-term use of margosa appears to be safe, while long-term use may harm the [[kidney]]s or [[liver]]; in small children, margosa oil is toxic and can lead to death.<ref name=drugs/> Margosa may also cause [[miscarriage]]s, [[infertility]], and [[Hypoglycemia|low blood sugar]].<ref name=drugs/>

In Southern India and the Middle-East, neem twigs are often used as a [[teeth-cleaning twig]].<ref name="dentalmuseum.pacific.edu">{{Cite web|title=Different Strokes for Different Folks: A History of the Toothbrush – Page 4 – Virtual Dental Museum|url=https://dentalmuseum.pacific.edu/different-strokes-different-folks-history-toothbrush/4/|access-date=2021-07-08|website=dentalmuseum.pacific.edu}}</ref>

=== Pest and disease control ===
Margosa is a key ingredient in [[non-pesticidal management]] (NPM), providing a natural alternative to synthetic pesticides. Margosa seeds are ground into powder that is soaked overnight in water and sprayed on the crop. To be effective, it must be applied repeatedly, at least every ten days. Margosa does not directly kill [[insect]]s. It acts as an anti-feedant, repellent, and egg-laying deterrent and thus protects the crop from damage. The insects starve and die within a few days. Margosa also suppresses the subsequent hatching of their eggs. Margosa-based fertilizers have been effective against [[Spodoptera eridania|southern armyworm]]. Margosa cake may be used as a fertilizer.<ref>{{cite web |title=Neem Cake Fertilizer, Uses, Application, Benefits {{!}} Agri Farming |url=https://www.agrifarming.in/neem-cake-fertilizer-uses-application-benefits |website=www.agrifarming.in |date=9 August 2020}}</ref>

'''Margosa oil''' has been shown to avert [[termite]] attack as an ecofriendly and economical agent.<ref>{{cite journal | last1 = YashRoy | first1 = R.C. | last2 = Gupta | first2 = P.K. | year = 2000 | title = Neem-seed oil inhibits growth of termite surface-tunnels | url = https://www.researchgate.net/publication/230822367 | journal = Indian Journal of Toxicology | volume = 7 | issue = 1| pages = 49–50 }}</ref>

=== Other uses ===
* Tree: the margosa tree is of great importance for its [[anti-desertification]] properties and possibly as a good [[carbon dioxide sink]]. It is also used for maintaining soil fertility.<ref name=Schroeder>{{Cite journal | doi=10.1016/0378-1127(92)90312-W| title=Carbon storage potential of short rotation tropical tree plantations| year=1992| last1=Schroeder| first1=Paul| journal=Forest Ecology and Management| volume=50| issue=1–2| pages=31–41| bibcode=1992ForEM..50...31S}}</ref><ref name=puhansynmadhuca>Puhan, Sukumar, et al. "Mahua (Madhuca indica) seed oil: a source of renewable energy in India." (2005).</ref>
*Fertilizer: neem extract is [[Neem-coated urea|added to fertilizers]] ([[urea]]) as a [[nitrification]] inhibitor.<ref>{{citation | author1=Heinrich W. Scherer | author2=Konrad Mengel | author3=Heinrich Dittmar | author4=Manfred Drach | author5=Ralf Vosskamp | author6=Martin E. Trenkel | author7=Reinhold Gutser | author8=Günter Steffens | author9=Vilmos Czikkely | author10=Titus Niedermaier | author11=Reinhardt Hähndel | author12=Hans Prün | author13=Karl-Heinz Ullrich | author14=Hermann Mühlfeld | author15=Wilfried Werner | author16=Günter Kluge | author17=Friedrich Kuhlmann | author18=Hugo Steinhauser | author19=Walter Brändlein | author20=Karl-Friedrich Kummer | contribution=Fertilizers | title=Ullmann's Encyclopedia of Industrial Chemistry | edition=7th | publisher=Wiley | year=2007 | doi=10.1002/14356007.a10_323.pub2| isbn=978-3527306732 }}</ref>
*Animal feed: margosa leaves can be occasionally used as forage for ruminants and rabbits.<ref>Heuzé V., Tran G., Archimède H., Bastianelli D., Lebas F., 2015. [https://www.feedipedia.org/node/182 Neem (Azadirachta indica)]. ''Feedipedia'', a programme by Institut national de la recherche agronomique, [[CIRAD]], AFZ and [[FAO]]. Last updated on 2 October 2015</ref>
*Teeth cleaning: margosa has traditionally been used as a type of [[teeth-cleaning twig]].<ref name="dentalmuseum.pacific.edu"/>

=== Toxicity ===
According to the [[American Journal of Neuroradiology]], margosa oil has the ability to cause some forms of toxic [[encephalopathy]] and [[ophthalmopathy]] if consumed in quantities exceeding 150ml (5.07 us fluid ounces).<ref name=NeemOilPoisoning>{{cite journal|author1=M.V. Bhaskara |author2=S.J. Pramoda |author3=M.U. Jeevikaa |author4=P.K. Chandana |author5=G. Shetteppa|date=6 May 2010|title=Letters: MR Imaging Findings of Neem Oil Poisoning|journal=American Journal of Neuroradiology|volume=31|pages=E60–E61| pmc=7965469 |  doi=10.3174/ajnr.A2146|pmid=20448012 |issue=7|doi-access=free}}</ref>