GC-based analysis of insecticidal constituents of the flowers of Azadirachta indica A. Juss.

The present article describes the analysis of an n-hexane soluble fraction of fresh flowers of Azadirachta indica A. Juss (Neem), possessing larvicidal activity against Anopheles stephensi Liston, a vector of malarial parasite. Forty-one compounds were identified in non-polar to less-polar fraction as well as in essential oil. These identifications were basically made through GC-EIMS. Thus 5 sesquiterpenes, 3 aromatics, 17 fatty acids, 5 fatty acid esters, three steroids and 8 hydrocarbons were identified. The compounds 1-5, 10, 14-17, 21a and 36-38 were reported previously from different parts of the tree including flowers. The rest of the compounds are reported for the first time from flowers.