Azadirachtin – Nature and use
Neem contains many naturally present terpenoids like Azadirachtin, Salannin, Nimbin, Nimbidin, Meliontriol etc (more than 30 different compounds) and they act in synergy on pests.

Aza is a major bio active component that has insecticidal property and therefore used as bench mark of quality and pricing of product.

Aza as technical powder is extracted either by precipitation of CPNKO or from Neem Kernels thru’ various solvents. The typical technical grade powder is called as Neem Extract and contains about 10% - 15% Azadirachtin.

Aza is analyzed by HPLC against a known reference standard (supplied by Sigma Aldrich).

Chemical Insecticides act as Chorine Esterase Enzyme inhibitors and consequently harm Central Nervous System of the insect. Insects can over a period of time start understanding the stimulus and start developing defensive mechanism called Resistance.

Whereas, Aza acts on Hormone system of Insects. Ecdysone is the hormone that governs the molting behaviour of insect larvae. Larvae (caterpillar stage of insect) molt the skin between each instar and this happens about five times in the stage of larva. The larvae do not feed on the day of molting (like that of snakes - also not feed while molting their skin). Aza does not permit expression of Ecdysone and therefore the molting does not take place if applied on insects / eaten by insects.

Unless the larva molts the skin, it can not and will not feed. As Aza does not permit molting, the insect will not eat and dies of starvation. This unique mode of action of Aza is referred to as ANTI FEEDANT property.