Toxic potential of Azadirachta indica seed oils obtained through maceration and soxhlet extraction

Abstract

Azadirachta indica A. Juss (neem) is a plant native to the Indian continent and has been studied for its pesticide and repellent potential. The use of plants offers an alternative to the use of synthetic insecticides, which can be harmful to some individuals and the environment, as well as the search for less toxic solvents. The oil extracted from A. indica seeds contains the bioactive azadirachtin, responsible for its insecticidal action. The objective of this study was to evaluate the toxicity profile of oils obtained from A. indica seeds using two different extraction methods, using commercial ethanol (93%) as the solvent: maceration and soxhlet. Lethality tests with A. salina were performed in triplicate. The percentage yields achieved in the oil extraction process by maceration and soxhlet were, respectively, 39.0 % and 28.0 %. The toxicity profile showed a low degree of toxicity, with little variation between the methods, indicating a promising potential in the use of these oils for various applications.