Antifungal fractions and compounds from uncrushed Green Leaves ofAzadirachta indica

Using the groundnut rust disease (causal agentPuccinia arachidis Speg.) as the bioassay system, two limonoids from the neem tree (Azadirachta indica A. Juss.) which evinced antifungal activity, were isolated through extraction, solvent fractionation and HPLC. A polar extract derived through solvent partitioning reduced the disease intensity considerably. The polar extract and the impure HPLC fractions were more effective than the pure compounds in reducing the pustule numbers and, consequently, the disease severity.