Throughout India, in deciduous forests, also widely cultivated, native of India. It is propagated by seeds naturally as well as cultivated in forests.

A medium to large-sized tree, 15-20 m in height with a clear bole of 7.0 m having greyish to dark grey tubercled bark; leaves compound, imparipinnate, leaflets, subopposite, serrate, very oblique at base; flowers creamy white or yellowish in axillary panciles, staminal tubes conspicuous, cylindric, widening above, 9-10 lobed at the apex; fruits one-seeded drupes with woody endocarp greenish-yellow when ripe, seeds ellipsoid, cotyledons thick, fleshy and oily. Flowering - fruiting February to June.

CHEMICAL CONSTITUENTS :

The stem bark contains tannin, non tannin and red dye. The bark exudes a clear, bright amber - co loured gum known as the EAST-INDIAN GUM. The leaves contain nimbin, nimbenene, nimbandiol, nimbolide and quercetin.The mature leaves contain protein, fat, fibers, carbohydrates and minerals, calcium, phosphorus, iron, thiamine, niacin, vitamin, carotene and calcium. The amino acids presents are: glutamic acid, tyrosine, aspartic acid, alanine, proline and glutamine. The fruits contain gedunin, azadiradione, azadirone and nimbiol.

Bark – is bitter, astringent, acrid, refrigerant, depurative, antiperiodic, vulnerary, demulcent, insecticidal, liver tonic,...expectomnt, urinary astringent, anthelmintic, pectoral and tonic.

Leaves – are bitter, astringent, acrid, depurative, antiseptic, ophthalmic, anthelmintic, alexeteric, appetiser, insecticidal, demulcent and refrigerant. Flowers bitter, febrifuge etc.