Neem essential oil: Extraction, characterization, and encapsulation

In the present study, extraction of nutraceuticals from neem leaves (Azadirachta indica A. Juss) was optimized using different extraction methods and solvents. Nutraceuticals possessing antimicrobial activities has been studied. The maximum amount of yield of neem oil was obtained when methanol was used and the yield comes out to be 7.68±0.11% by weight. 100 µL of extracted neem oil was incorporated in three different types of hydrogels of different proportions such as Chitosan-Gelatin hydrogel (1:1. 1.67:1 and 1:5), Maltodextrin-Whey protein (1:2) and Gum Arabic hydrogel and the release behavior was determined. The neem nutraceutical release was maximum (89.99 %) in case of Chitosan-Gelatin hydrogel where chitosan and gelatin was in the ratio of 5:1 and the amount of nutraceutical present was 100 µL, whereas the amount of drug release was observed minimum (44.45 %) in Gum Arabic hydrogel.