This popular seed can treat hypertension, expert reveals

A Researcher, Marvellous Acho, in the Department of Biochemistry, University of Ilorin (Unilorin), says she has discovered that Neem seed, also known locally as Dogonyaro, can treat hypertension and oxidative stress.

Acho made this known in Ilorin while presenting her Ph.D thesis, titled: “Physicochemical characterisation, Angiotensin-1 converting Enzyme inhibitory and Cardio protective activities of Peptide Fractions of Azadirachta Indica seed protein”.

She said the seed had antioxidant and cardio-protective activities.

The researcher stated that neem is less expensive, had little or no side effect and serves as an option to synthetic drugs especially for hypertension.

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Acho recommended that further research should be done on getting peptide from neem seed using animal studies to see if it could be replicated in humans.

Neem is locally known in Nigeria as Dogonyaro and it is a natural herb that comes from the neem tree.

Its scientific name is Azadirachta indica and Indian lilac and the extract comes from the seeds of the tree and has many different traditional uses.

Neem is also known for its pesticide and insecticidal properties, but people also use it in hair and dental products.