Azadirachtin, a neem biopesticide: subchronic toxicity assessment in rats

Azadirachtin, a biopesticide obtained from neem, was subjected to subchroni c toxicological testing to document its safety for use as a pesticide. Azad irachtin technical 12% orally administered to male and female rats at doses of 500, 1000 and 1500 mg/kg/day for 90 days did not produce any signs of t oxicity, mortality, changes in tissue weight, pathology and serum and blood parameters. It can be suggested that azadirachtin at the highest dose test ed is well tolerated by rats of both sexes. The highest dose, 1500 mg/kg, c an be used as a basal dose for the determination of the no-observed-effect level (NOEL) of azadirachtin to calculate its safety margin. (C) 2001 Elsev ier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.