Evolution and Exploration of Azadirachta indica in Dentistry: An Update

Despite great achievements globally in oral health of populations, dental caries and periodontal diseases are the most important oral health burdens particularly among under-privileged groups in developed and developing countries. Nonetheless, oral cancer is the sixth most common cancer reported globally with an annual incidence of over 300,000 cases, of which 62% arise in developing countries. Apart from the traditional therapeutic modalities available so far that are usually synthetic drugs, researchers are presently discovering unexplored horizons of herbs for curing these ailments. One such beneficial herb is Azadirachta indica (Neem) that has been widely accepted throughout the world for its innumerable medicinal properties. The limitless benefits of neem has been documented in Indian traditional medicinal books like ‘Charak – Samhita’ & ‘Sushruta – Samhita’. Neem tree has been valued long back, since centuries by the Indian citizens for cleaning the teeth, skin diseases, consumption as a tonic & eradicating worms etc & many more. The present review discusses the in-vivo, in-vitro and animal studies utilizing the electronic databases Pubmed, Embase and Google Scholar till 31st December 2016 that highlights the medicinal properties of this wonder herb from oral health point of view suggesting its role as anti-gingivitis, anti-microbial, antiplaque, anticandidiasis, anti-periodontitis, effective endodontic irrigant, dental erosion therapy, anticaries & oral cancer therapy. Although the results are encouraging, but more scientific validation is required so that the incorporation of this ayurvedic herb into modern dentistry could be justified.