Azadirachta indica (Neem) in Wound Healing: A Review of Bioactive Compounds, Mechanisms, and Current Translational Evidence
- 1Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah 21488, Saudi Arabia
- 2Department of Botany and Microbiology, Faculty of Science, Assiut University, Assiut 71516, Egypt
Abstract
Chronic wounds are significantly increasing the risk of morbidity and amputation in diabetic patients and older people worldwide. Moreover, the widespread use of antibiotics has led to an increase in drug-resistant infections, complicating the healing process, prolonging hospitalization, and increasing the financial burden on healthcare systems. Consequently, plant-derived therapeutics have attracted considerable interest as accessible, biocompatible adjuncts in regenerative medicine. The neem plant (Azadirachta indica) is traditionally known as the “village pharmacy” due to its extensive pharmacological effects, such as antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and regenerative activities. This review covers the properties of different neem parts and extracts, their applications, and the molecular mechanisms of its essential bioactive compounds. In addition, it summarizes recent in vitro, in vivo, and emerging clinical findings across different wound types. Furthermore, it critically appraises key translational bottlenecks, including a primary technical barrier related to the lack of phytochemical standardization, non-linear dose responses, and the paucity of well-controlled human trials. Overall, while heterogeneous preclinical evidence supports the biological plausibility and wound-healing activity of A. indica, definitive clinical utility remains unproven across diverse patient cohorts. Future prospective methodology incorporating systematic chemical profiling and adequately powered randomized controlled trials will be essential to establish its clinical utility and safety profile in contemporary wound management.
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BibTeX
@article{alomari2026azadirachta,
title = {{Azadirachta indica (Neem) in Wound Healing: A Review of Bioactive Compounds, Mechanisms, and Current Translational Evidence}},
author = {Rafa Alomari and Manal El-Zohri and Suzan Alharbi},
journal = {International Journal of Molecular Sciences},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.3390/ijms27219591},
url = {https://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/27/21/9591},
note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Azadirachta indica (Neem) in Wound Healing: A Review of Bioactive Compounds, Mechanisms, and Current Translational Evidence
AU - Rafa Alomari
AU - Manal El-Zohri
AU - Suzan Alharbi
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/27
JO - International Journal of Molecular Sciences
DO - 10.3390/ijms27219591
UR - https://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/27/21/9591
AB - Chronic wounds are significantly increasing the risk of morbidity and amputation in diabetic patients and older people worldwide. Moreover, the widespread use of antibiotics has led to an increase in drug-resistant infections, complicating the healing process, prolonging hospitalization, and increasing the financial burden on healthcare systems. Consequently, plant-derived therapeutics have attracted considerable interest as accessible, biocompatible adjuncts in regenerative medicine. The neem plant (Azadirachta indica) is traditionally known as the “village pharmacy” due to its extensive pharmacological effects, such as antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and regenerative activities. This review covers the properties of different neem parts and extracts, their applications, and the molecular mechanisms of its essential bioactive compounds. In addition, it summarizes recent in vitro, in vivo, and emerging clinical findings across different wound types. Furthermore, it critically appraises key translational bottlenecks, including a primary technical barrier related to the lack of phytochemical standardization, non-linear dose responses, and the paucity of well-controlled human trials. Overall, while heterogeneous preclinical evidence supports the biological plausibility and wound-healing activity of A. indica, definitive clinical utility remains unproven across diverse patient cohorts. Future prospective methodology incorporating systematic chemical profiling and adequately powered randomized controlled trials will be essential to establish its clinical utility and safety profile in contemporary wound management.
SN - 1422-0067
ER -