EXTRACTION OF OIL AND PRODUCTION OF PESTICIDES USING NEEM SEED AZADIRACHTA INDICA

1.1 Introduction

According to Entrepreneurindia (2021), Pesticides are chemical substances that are meant to kill pests. In general, a pesticide is a chemical or a biological agent such as a virus, bacterium, antimicrobial, or disinfectant that deters, incapacitates, kills, pests.

This use of pesticides is so common that the term pesticide is often treated as synonymous with plant protection product. It is commonly used to eliminate or control a variety of agricultural pests that can damage crops and livestock and reduce farm productivity (Entrepreneurindia, 2021).

The most commonly applied pesticides are insecticides to kill insects, herbicides to kill weeds, rodenticides to kill rodents, and fungicides to control fungi, mold, and mildew. A pesticide is any substance used to kill, repel, or control certain forms of plant or animal life that are considered to be pests. Pesticides include herbicides for destroying weeds and other unwanted vegetation, insecticides for controlling a wide variety of insects, fungicides used to prevent the growth of molds and mildew, disinfectants for preventing the spread of bacteria, and compounds used to control mice and rats. Because of the wide spread use of agricultural chemicals in food production, people are exposed to low levels of pesticide residues through their diets (Entrepreneurindia, 2021).

Neemis best known for its anti-aging properties, due to its antioxidant properties, neem protects the skin from harmful UV rays, pollution and other environmental factors. The vitamins and fatty acids in neem improve and maintain the elasticity of the skin, reduce wrinkles and fine lines. Neem Pesticide / Insecticide formulation is a neem based botanical product that contains azadirachtin as an active ingredient. Azadiracht in is found to bevery effective forover 600 species of insects (Entrepreneurindia, 2021).

Neem is a highly effective pesticide that once sprayed, will keep the insects at bay. It works in a variety of ways from killing all sucking and chewing insects, keeping insects at bay who refuse to eat the sprayed foliage and end up dying of starvation, as well as disrupting the sexual reproduction of insects so that their life cycle is both disrupted and ended (Entrepreneurindia, 2021).

1.2 Background of Study

The neem is a tropical evergreen tree native to Indian sub-continent (Roxburgh, 1874). It has been used in Ayurvedic medicine for more than 4000 years due to its medicinal properties. Most of the plant parts such as fruits, seeds, leaves, bark and roots contain compounds with proven antiseptic, antiviral, antipyretic, anti-inflammatory, antiulcer and antifungal uses. It has great potential in the fields of pest management, environment protection and medicine. Neem is a natural source of eco-friendly insecticides, pesticides and agrochemicals (Brahmachari, 2004). Neem is considered to be a part of India’s genetic diversity (Sateesh, 1998). It is the most researched tree in the world and is said to be the most promising tree of 21st century. The tree has adaptability to a wide range of climatic, topographic and edaphic factors. It thrives well in dry, stony shallow soils and even on soils having hard clay pan, at a shallow depth. Neem tree requires little water and plenty of sunlight (Sateesh, 1998). The tree grows naturally in areas where the rainfall is in the range of 450 to 1200 mm. However, it has been introduced successfully even in areas where the rainfall is as low as 150 to 250 mm. Neem grows on altitudes up to 1500 m (Jattan et al., 1995; Chari, 1996). It can grow well in wide temperature range of 0 to 49°C (Hegde, 1995). It cannot withstand water-logged areas and poorly drained soils. The pH range for the growth of neem tree lies in between 4 to 10. Neem trees have the ability to neutralize acidic soils by a unique property of calcium mining (Hegde, 1995).

Biologically active principles isolated from different parts of the plant include: azadirachtin, meliacin, gedunin, salanin, nimbin, valassin and many other derivatives of these principles. Meliacin forms the bitter principles of neem seed oil; the seed also contain tignic acid (5-methyl-2-butanic acid) responsible for the distincitive odour of the oil (Schmutterer, 1990; Uko and Kamalu, 2001; Lale, 2002). These compounds belong to natural products called triterpenoids (Limonoids). The active principles are slightly hydrophilic, but freely lipophilic and highly soluble in organic solvents like, hydrocarbon, alcohols, ketones and esters (Schmutterer and Singh, 1995). Therefore, this review will focus on the relevance of neem and its products in agriculture, industry, biomedicine and environment.

Medicinal plants are part of human society and are used to combat diseases, not only those of animals but of plants as well, from the dawn of civilization. Azadirachta indica A. Juss (syn. Melia Azadirachta) is well known in India and its neighboring countries for more than 2000 years as one of the most versatile medicinal plants having a wide spectrum of biological activity. A. indica A. Juss and M. azedarach are two closely related species of Meliaceae. The former is popularly known as Indian neem (Margosa tree) or Indian lilac, and the latter as the Persian lilac. Neem is an evergreen tree, cultivated in various parts of the Indian subcontinent.

Every part of the tree has been used as traditional medicine for household remedy against various human ailments, from antiquity. Neem has been extensively used in ayurveda, unani and homoeopathic medicine and has become a cynosure of modern medicine. The Sanskrit name of the neem tree is ‘Arishtha’ meaning ‘reliever of sickness’ and hence is considered as ‘Sarbaroganibarini’. The tree is still regarded as ‘village dispensary’ in India.

The importance of the neem tree has been recognized by the US National Academy of Sciences, which published a report in 1992 entitled ‘Neem – a tree for solving global problems’. The neem tree has been described as A. indica early in 1830 by De Jussieu

1.3 Statement of Problems

The study reveals the following problems associated with the extraction of oil and production of pesticides using Neem seed azadirachta indica;

1. Lack proper estimation of the extraction of oil and production of pesticides using Neem Seed,
2. Inadequate information relating to the adverse effect of using synthetic pesticide,
3. Inadequate information relating to the efficiency rate of the insecticide with respect to the time of application.

1.4 Objectives of Study

The aim of this study is to identify and determine the extraction of oil and production of pesticides using Neem seed. Therefore, the objectives of this research were:

1. To estimation of the extraction of oil and production of pesticides using Neem Seed,
2. Provision of information relating to the adverse effect of using synthetic pesticide,
3. To provide information relating to the efficiency rate of the insecticide with respect to the time of application.

1.5 Significance of the Study

This research work when completed and implemented it will help to kill insects, herbicides to kill weeds, rodenticides to kill rodents, and fungicides to control fungi, mold, and mildew.

Besides, the study will serve as reference material for subsequent researcher in the field or related topics.

1.6 Scope of Study

The study focuses on the extraction of oil and production of pesticides using neem seed (axadhiracta indica).

1.7 Limitations of the Study

During the course of this study, many things militated against its completion, some of which are:

1. Time Constraint: The time frame given to accomplish this project was very short due to school academic calendar and it was carried out under pressure which made the researcher not to implement some necessary features.
2. Establishment Policies: Establishment policies posed a serious limitation as most staffs are not ready to release information needed for this project work. There were lots of information needed from the staffs of this institution to enhance the study which took them time to release or they did not release at all for security purposes, hence the scope was reduced.

1.8 Definition of Technical Terms

Extraction: Extractions are a way to separate a desired substance when it is mixed with others.

Oil: Oil is a viscous liquid derived from petroleum, especially for use as a fuel or lubricant.

Production: Production is a process of combining various material inputs and immaterial inputs (plans, know-how) in order to make something for consumption (output). It is the act of creating an output, a good or service which has value and contributes to the utility of individuals.

Pesticide: Pesticide is any substance or mixture of substances intended for preventing, destroying, repelling or mitigating any pest.

Neem: Neem is a natural herb that comes from the neem tree, other names for which include Azadirachta indica and Indian lilac.

Seed: the unit of reproduction of a flowering plant, capable of developing into another such plant.

Neem Seed: Neem is a natural herb that comes from the neem tree, other names for which include Azadirachta indica and Indian lilac. The extract comes from the seeds of the tree and has many different traditional uses.

Adverse Effect: An adverse effect is an undesired harmful effect resulting from a medication or other intervention, such as surgery.

Synthetic Pesticide: Synthetic pesticides are products that are produced from chemical alteration.

Insecticide: Insecticides are pesticides that are formulated to kill, harm, repel or mitigate one or more species of insect. Insecticides work in different ways.